GUIDELINES IN

DISASTER AND
EMERGENCY
SITUATION
CHAPTER 4

RAYMOND M. ORTEGA, RN, MSN

TOPICS
MENTAL HEALTH AND
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT IN
EMERGENCY SETTINGS (SF Exam)
INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD
FEEDING IN EMERGENCIES AND
DISASTER SITUATION
PAG-ASA RAINFALL WARNING
SYSTEM
MENTAL HEALTH
AND
PSYCHOSOCIAL
SUPPORT IN
EMERGENCY
SETTINGS
It is a state of mental well-being
that enables people to cope with the
stresses of life, realize their abilities,
learn well and work well, and
contribute to their community.

It is an integral component of

health and well-being that
underpins our individual and
collective abilities to make
decisions, build relationships
and shape the world we live in.

Mental health is a basic human

right.
People with Increased Risk of Problems
that may affect Mental Health
Impacts of Disaster
Unemployment
Loss of Family members, Relatives and
Friends
Financial hardship
Loss of human functioning
Damage to property
Deterioration of health and health services
Limited access to some of the basic human
needs
 Impacts of Disaster
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL- can create high distress,
anxiety, traumatic stress etc
FAMILY LEVEL- can interrupt family life and
separation of children from families, family financial
hardships etc.
COMMUNITY LEVEL- people need to be displaced,
community traditional events, festival, social life and
other kind of activities can be disrupted.
Common Reaction to Disaster
• Majority of people show some change after a
traumatic / distressing event.
• These reactions are normal and
psychological stress will improve over time
(DEAR)
• Not everybody will be traumatized by those
events.
• The majority will be distressed, only a small
number will be chronic traumatized.
What is MHPSS?

• Mental health and psychosocial

support refers to any type of local or
outside support that aims to protect or
promote psychosocial well-being
and/or prevent or treat mental
disorder.
Characteristics of Psychosocial Support
Mobilizes the Relieves
power of emotional and
humanity. physical suffering.

Improves a person’s Reduces long-term

immediate ability to negative
function under psychological
stress. effects.
 Purposes of Providing Psychosocial
Support

Promoting a
sense of self and
collective efficacy
Promoting Promoting
Hope calmness

Promoting Promoting a
Connectedne Psychosocial sense of
ss safety
support
MHPSS IN DISASTER
• Disaster and conflict often cause
substantial damages to materials
and human life. While material can
be fixed or replaced, mental
wound is often kept secretly and
need more time to heal from.
Why do we provide MHPSS?
MHPSS can reduce stress, strengthen
and use protective factors to help people
affected by emotional crises TO
RECOVER.

Providing early and adequate MHPSS

can prevent distress and suffering from
developing into something more severe.
 Guidelines to enable
humanitarian to plan,
establish and coordinate
set of minimum
responses to protect and
improve people’s mental
health and psychosocial
well –being in the midst
of an emergency.
Focus on re-establish security, safety
& basic services (water, food, shelter
& health services) – advocacy for
basic services that are safe, socially
appropriate & protect dignity.
 Promote and / or provide
everyday activities such as
schooling, activating social
net
Provide onsite for psychological first aid, basic mental
health care by trained primary healthcare doctors or
refer for outside service, provide activities in child
friendly spaces to support for basic emotional & other
practical support as needed.
 Services provide by mental healthcare specialists (psychiatric,
nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc.) Child Friendly Service
workers refer person to specialist services for diagnosis &
support for those 6-8 weeks after emergence if still not showing
signs of improvement.
 What is Psychological First Aids (PFA)
It is a humane and supportive response
to a fellow human being who is suffering
and who may need support.

It is an acute intervention of choice

when responding to the psychosocial
needs of children, adults and families
affected by disaster and pandemic.
Psychological First Aid is “not”
Not something only professionals can do
Not psychological debriefing
Not professional counselling or therapy
Not encouraging a detailed discussion of the event that
has caused the distress, traumatic experiences and
losses
Not pressing someone to talk for details on what
happened
 Not pressuring people to share their feelings and
reactions to an event.
Not something that everybody who has been affected by
an emergency will need.
Who may benefit from PFA?
Very distressed people who were recently exposed to a
serious stressful event
Can be provided to adults and children, adolescents,
parents/caretakers, families who have recently
experienced a crisis event and are distressed
Not everyone who experiences a crisis event will need
or want PFA
Don’t force help on those who don’t want it, but make
yourself available and easily accessible to those who
may want support
 Where should PFA be provided?
PFA can be provided anywhere or place where it is safe
and had some privacy for you and affected people
when appropriate. (shelters, temporary housing,
assistance center, crisis and emergency hotline, etc..)

Privacy is essential for confidentiality and to respect

the person’s dignity, for those who have been exposed
to certain types of crisis events such as sexual violence.
Ethical consideration when providing PFA

DO’S
Be honest and trustworthy.
Respect people’s right to make their own decisions.
Be aware of and set aside your own biases and prejudices.
Make it clear to people that even if they refuse help now, they
can still access help in the future.
Respect privacy and keep the person’s story confidential, if
this is appropriate.
Behave appropriately by considering the person’s culture, age
and gender.
Ethical consideration when providing PFA
DONT’S
Don’t exploit your relationship as a helper.
Don’t ask the person for any money or favor for helping them.
Don’t make false promises or give false information.
Don’t exaggerate your skills.
Don’t force help on people, and don’t be intrusive or pushy.
Don’t pressure people to tell you their story.
Don’t share the person’s story with others.
Don’t judge the person for their actions or feelings.
3 Basic Action Principles of PFA
Look
✓ Check for safety.
✓ Check for people with obvious urgent basic needs.
✓ Check for people with serious distress reactions.

Listen
✓ Approach people who may need support.
✓ Ask about people’s needs and concerns.
✓ Listen to people and help them to feel calm.

Link
✓ Help people address basic needs and access services.
✓ Help people cope with problems.
✓ Give information.
✓ Connect people with loved ones and social support.
 Roles of helper in delivering PFA and
MHPSS
At any time while interacting with person
and their family, the helper applies
companionate and respectful
communication.

When psychosocial issue is identified, the

helper provides specific psychosocial support
to the person by using his/her skills.
Essential skills and quality of those
who offering PFA and MHPSS
Listening skills • Accountable
Communication • Approachability
Politeness • Empathy
Patience • Non-judgmental
approach • Commitment
Caring attitude • Not taking
advantage
Trustworthiness from vulnerable people
• Reliable
Honesty • Kindness
INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD
FEEDING IN EMERGENCIES
AND DISASTER SITUATION
IYCF-E
Concerns the protection and support of safe
and appropriate feeding for infants and
young children in all types of emergencies,
with the goal of safeguarding their survival,
health and growth.
Promotion and protection of breastfeeding.
The well being of mothers (nutritional,
mental, and physical health) is critical to
the well being of their children.
Why does
IYCF-E
Matter?
Infants and Young Children
are the MOST Vulnerable
Even in healthy populations, CHILD
MORTALITY
can increase by 20%
In emergencies, rates of CHILD
MORTALITY can soar from
2-70 times higher than average
Emergencies can happen
ANYWHERE

IYCF-E is relevant in
ALL EMERGENCIES
 WHY?

Why is there high infant mortality

and morbidity due to emergencies
compared to breast feeding?
 WHY 1. Due to
contamination of formula
 WHY 2a. Due to lack of water
NOTE:

A 3 month old bottle

fed baby needs 1 Liter
of water per day to
mix with the formula
powder.

Another 2 Liters are

needed to sterilize
the bottles and teats.
WHY 2b. Due to contamination
of water
 WHY 3. Due to mode of feeding and
lack of supporting resources
Bottles and teats are
difficult to sterilize.
Esp. with lack of water,
fuel, equipment, etc.
 WHY 4. Due to infant formula being prepared
incorrectly (over or under diluted)
Reasons:
1. Financial Concerns
2. Lack of Knowledge
WHY 5. Infant Formula does not have the
protective properties of breastmilk
BREASTFEEDING
It remains the best
infant feeding option in
a natural disaster
situation.
Breast milk helps protect
babies from diseases such
as diarrhea and
respiratory infections and
provides the calories and
nutrients babies need.
Mag-BREASTFEEDING TSEK para
NUTRISYON ni Baby ay TSEK
 REMEMBER
Perform hand washing
before feeding.
Use an alcohol based
hand sanitizers with at
least 70% alcohol.
Learn the skills in
expressing breast milk.
Continue breastfeeding
in emergency situation.
LEGAL
BASIS
RA 11148 SERIES OF 2008
“Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act"

This Act covers those who are nutritionally-at-

risk, especially pregnant and lactating
women, particularly teenage mothers,
women of reproductive age, adolescent
girls, and all Filipino children who are
newly born up to age twenty-four (24)
months.
Nutrition intervention programs in the first
one thousand (1,000) days implemented.
First 1000 days
Provides the enabling environment for
the sustained provision of critical early
child care interventions for the first
1000 days of a child's life, for optimal
growth and development.
Importance of First 1000 days
This is a time when their brain, body and
immune system grows and develops
significantly.
Children are born ready to learn and some
of the best learning comes
from nurturing relationships.
Early experiences affect the
nature and quality of the
brain's developing architecture..
EO 51: MILK CODE
PAG-ASA RAINFALL
WARNING SYSTEM
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAG ASA)
Philippine national
institution dedicated to
providing flood and typhoon
warnings, pubic weather
forecasts, and advisories for
the protection of life and
property and in support
of economic, productivity
and sustainable
development.
NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (NDRRMC)
Government's arm in disaster
preparedness.
Early warning system through SMS
NOTIFICATIONS
Informs everyone about impending
typhoons, torrential rain, flooding and
earthquake with SMS MESSAGES.
Brief, understandable
message in Filipino

RA 10369
FREE MOBILE
DISASTER ALERT ACT
Why rainfall warning alerts
be so loud and panic-
inducing?
 POINTERS TO REVIEW FOR
SEMI-FINALS EXAM (60 ITEMS)
SAFE PATIENT LIFTING AND MOVING
(CHAPTER 3.4)

DRESSING AND BANDAGING

(CHAPTER 3.5)

MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL

SUPPORT IN EMERGENCY SETTINGS
(CHAPTER 4)
END….
 REFLECTION PAPER
(minimum of 500 words)

Reflect on a chosen Philippine law

discussed in class, understanding
its importance, gained knowledge
and its implications in our society.