The Psychosocial Aspects of a Deadly Epidemic: What Ebola Has Taught Us about Holistic Healing: What Ebola Has Taught Us about Holistic Healing
428
The Psychosocial Aspects of a Deadly Epidemic: What Ebola Has Taught Us about Holistic Healing: What Ebola Has Taught Us about Holistic Healing
428eBook
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Overview
While the devastating Ebola epidemic has been contained, the effects of this outbreak—referred to by the World Health Organization as "the most severe acute public health emergency seen in modern times"—have wreaked a tremendous emotional toll on the populations of West Africa as well as on families and survivors worldwide. This groundbreaking book covers the psychosocial needs, programs, and policies related to the Ebola epidemic and examines broader lessons of the outbreak, such as changes in the ways in which healing from future epidemics can be handled.
Edited by Judy Kuriansky, PhD, a noted clinical psychologist and United Nations NGO representative with extensive experience helping after disasters worldwide, and direct experience gained from being "on the ground" in West Africa in the midst of the epidemic, this book identifies and explains universal psychological factors at play in all such crises. It debunks myths regarding Ebola and describes the resulting psychological and social harm caused by the epidemic. The chapters cover overarching emotional issues and problems as well as the long-term impact on at-risk groups, such as children, women, and health workers; the impact of emotional issues on social and economic life; responses of government officials, media, and various aid organizations; and solutions being offered by groups worldwide, including service and humanitarian organizations, politicians, policymakers, and public health education groups.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781440842313 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | ABC-CLIO, Incorporated |
| Publication date: | 03/21/2016 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 428 |
| File size: | 4 MB |
About the Author
Judy Kuriansky, PhD, is an internationally known clinical psychologist, fellow of the American Psychological Association, United Nations NGO representative, and chair of the Psychology Coalition of NGOs accredited at the United Nations.
What People are Saying About This
"This is indeed a groundbreaking book! Globally respected Psychologist and a member of the US Doctors for Africa Advisory Board, Dr. Judy Kuriansky gives us a rare comprehensive insight into the extensive emotional aspects of epidemics, focusing on Ebola. As a professional of the highest caliber and a world-wide noted psychologist, an award-winning journalist and devoted humanitarian who has provided psycho-social support to people around the world, Dr. Kuriansky has put together a volume that should be read widely by professionals in all fields of educators, humanitarians, mental health experts, and scientists as well as policymakers and the public in general."
"This volume draws together an all-too-often overlooked set of perspectives related to mental health and psychosocial well-being in the context of health insecurity related to outbreak disease. In this extensive exploration of the stigma, fears, and distrust arising from the recent Ebola crisis in West Africa, Judy Kuriansky's indepth insights illuminate critical opportunities for more compassionate policy and programs to protect and support people faced with the risk and reality of pandemics."
"As a clinical psychologist myself, and Mayor of Monrovia, a West African city hit so hard by this epidemic, I am fully aware of the psychological impact. For this reason, I am particularly impressed with this volume my colleague Dr. Judy Kuriansky has put together, chronicling her own efforts and projects during and after the epidemic as well as perspectives and contributions by leading experts, and powerful accounts of people and communities who were, and still are, affected by this trauma. Protecting the mental health of our population as we recover is an important and crucial task. This book's chapters are all essential guides to how to achieve healing. Dr. Kuriansky has presented views from many important perspectives, including children, women, local and international responders, and stories from Ebola survivors, communities, policymakers, health officials, and others. Everyone involved with such crises needs to read this."
"The Ebola contagion tested the very fabric of our nation; after almost 14 months we as a people surmounted that evil. Defeat of Ebola is a testament that the heroes and heroines who lost their lives did not do so in vain; the resilience of a nation can move mountains."
"The Psychosocial Aspects Of A Deadly Disease: What Ebola Has Taught Us About Holistic Healing provides a much-needed and comprehensive examination of the Ebola epidemic that devastated Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea, caused infections in other countries, and continues to wreak havoc on West Africa and elsewhere. Dr. Kuriansky, a well-respected international clinical psychologist, has brought together a group of outstanding authorities to share their insights into the often fatal Ebola Virus Disease—focusing on the all-too-often overlooked psychosocial issues that are exceptionally important in transmission, recovery, and prevention, as they underlie the origins and the cultural factors impacting the disease, how the virus is transmitted, treatment steps taken, and the impact on vast numbers of victims: survivors, health-workers, orphans, young mothers and many others. The personal stories recounted in the book are revealing and heart-breaking, and complement enlightening academic perspectives. Equally important are the policy recommendations provided, including a model for psychosocial support in emergency situations. Dr. Kuriansky speaks with authority having worked in Sierra Leone during the epidemic, and afterwards, with traumatically-affected Ebola burial workers, children, survivors, and community groups, and shares her valuable clinical and research expertise from this region and decades of experiences in countries affected by a vast number of disasters as well as other infectious diseases, like SARS and AIDS. As someone who is exceptionally familiar with the culture of Sierra Leone for many decades, and who has been honored to be named an Honorary Paramount Chief, I am impressed with the breadth and depth of knowledge, and valuable guidance, that Dr. Kuriansky has presented in this book. I highly recommend this volume to anyone who wants to gain a good understanding of this deadly disease, and others like it, as well as to learn about how to deal with the impact of psychosocial issues on an entire social and economic system, and how to solve these issues for people, communities, and the extended world."
"This ground-breaking and powerful book brings together the first comprehensive collection of contributions about psychosocial issues in relation to the deadly Ebola disease that has recently ravaged various countries in West Africa. It presents not only models of psychosocial support and ways of providing this and raising public awareness, but also broader policy recommendations, and, perhaps most importantly, the stories of those who have been touched in some way by the disease, either as victims or as professionals. One particularly courageous group of people, who when I was last in Freetown, Sierra Leone, told me harrowing stories not only of their experiences during the Ebola outbreak but of their stigmatisation since that time, is the burial workers. The book's editor, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, who was herself courageous enough to come to this Ebola infected region at the height of need, is to be commended for the invaluable psychosocial support that she offered these workers, as reported in the book. The Ebola epidemic was particularly tragic in Sierra Leone since the country was still reeling from the effects of a brutal 11-year civil war, but in the many years during which I have worked with and researched survivors of this war I have been constantly struck by their resilience. This resilience, and the capacity not only to recover but also to learn lessons and grow following trauma, is much in evidence in this book, not least by the way in which the Ebola crisis has led highly dedicated individuals to develop more generally the provision of psychosocial support for those who are in need of this. Although much of the work presented in the book concerns the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, it has a much broader relevance in relation to psychosocial factors and responses to health emergencies and other disasters worldwide."