Citation

Cinar EN, Abbara A, Yılmaz E. BMJ 2023; 380: p559.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmj.p559

PMID

36889790

Abstract

The catastrophic earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on 6 February 2023 left a humanitarian crisis in their wake. As of 1 March 2023, the death toll in Turkey has risen to 45 089, and 6000 deaths have been reported in Syria.12 It is likely, however, that the death toll and the extent of the damage will continue to rise--particularly in northwest Syria where search and rescue efforts have been impeded by border restrictions. Much of the immediate devastation is apparent, but without careful mitigation, the people of these two countries will experience more insidious, longer term harms to their health.

The ramifications of these earthquakes will be shaped by the fact that in both countries first responders and healthcare workers were also directly affected by the earthquakes. They have experienced trauma, loss, and forced displacement along with the wider population, inflicting a high psychological toll. As local authorities and international actors respond to this crisis, the provision of psychosocial support--which is culturally and linguistically appropriate and free at the point of use--is therefore essential and urgent.3 Without this, there is a risk of long term psychological morbidity, which will harm population health more widely.4 To meet these needs, mental health and psychosocial services should be integrated with primary care, which itself needs strengthening in both countries. For healthcare providers who are struggling with poor mental health in the earthquakes' aftermath, investing in telepsychology interventions may be a useful strategy for reaching them and providing care...

Language: en