Disasters are an important public health issue; however, there is scarce evidence to date on what... more Disasters are an important public health issue; however, there is scarce evidence to date on what happens when communities and populations experience more than one disaster. This scoping review identifies literature on the effects of multiple disasters published until Aug 2, 2021, 1425 articles were identified, of which 150 articles were included. We analysed direct and indirect public health implications of multiple disasters. Our analysis suggests that exposure to multiple disasters can affect mental health, physical health, and wellbeing, with some evidence that the potential risks of multiple disaster exposure exceed those of single disaster exposure. We also identified indirect public health implications of multiple disaster exposure, related to changes in health-care facilities, changes in public risk perception, and governmental responses to multiple disasters. We present findings on community recovery and methodological challenges to the study of multiple disasters, and directions for future research.
International journal of emergency mental health, 2015
This paper explores the process of resilience in multiple system levels through the perspectives ... more This paper explores the process of resilience in multiple system levels through the perspectives of people who experienced a natural disaster in Australia. By focussing on human resilience, the paper adds to the literature by taking a salutogenic approach to addressing the effects on mental health arising from living through a natural disaster. The authors analysed 19 semi-structured interviews with people who experienced the 2010/11 floods in Victoria, Australia, and 20 witness statements from people who experienced the 2009 Victorian bushfires. We used an interpretive and comparative content analysis, through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s theory, to develop an ecological model of the processes within and between systems that contributed to community resilience. Findings suggest that resilience is supported by goals to rebuild a sense of home, a network of friends and a sense of community. We conclude that enhancing community resilience required consideration of the roles and actions of others (media, government, relief agencies) as well as an individual’s resources from existing and new networks. The multiple-system model of resilience describes the complex integration of individual and community resilience to guide people involved at the multiple levels of disaster management with strategies that support communities that experience adversity.
Issue AddressedThe COVID‐19 pandemic bears many similarities to other disasters such as bushfires... more Issue AddressedThe COVID‐19 pandemic bears many similarities to other disasters such as bushfires, earthquakes and floods. It also has distinctive features including its prolonged and recurrent nature and the social isolation induced by pandemic responses. Existing conceptual frameworks previously applied to the study of disaster, such as the Recovery Capitals Framework (RCF), may be useful in understanding experiences of the COVID‐19 pandemic and in guiding agencies and governments tasked with supporting communities.MethodsThis paper presents an analysis of interviews conducted with residents of the Australian state of Victoria in 2020–2021. The RCF was used to analyse how participant experiences and well‐being were influenced by seven forms of capital—social, human, natural, financial, built, cultural and political—with particular focus on the interactions between these capitals.ResultsSocial capital featured most prominently in participants' accounts, yet the analysis reveale...
Disasters are an important public health issue; however, there is scarce evidence to date on what... more Disasters are an important public health issue; however, there is scarce evidence to date on what happens when communities and populations experience more than one disaster. This scoping review identifies literature on the effects of multiple disasters published until Aug 2, 2021, 1425 articles were identified, of which 150 articles were included. We analysed direct and indirect public health implications of multiple disasters. Our analysis suggests that exposure to multiple disasters can affect mental health, physical health, and wellbeing, with some evidence that the potential risks of multiple disaster exposure exceed those of single disaster exposure. We also identified indirect public health implications of multiple disaster exposure, related to changes in health-care facilities, changes in public risk perception, and governmental responses to multiple disasters. We present findings on community recovery and methodological challenges to the study of multiple disasters, and directions for future research.
International journal of emergency mental health, 2015
This paper explores the process of resilience in multiple system levels through the perspectives ... more This paper explores the process of resilience in multiple system levels through the perspectives of people who experienced a natural disaster in Australia. By focussing on human resilience, the paper adds to the literature by taking a salutogenic approach to addressing the effects on mental health arising from living through a natural disaster. The authors analysed 19 semi-structured interviews with people who experienced the 2010/11 floods in Victoria, Australia, and 20 witness statements from people who experienced the 2009 Victorian bushfires. We used an interpretive and comparative content analysis, through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s theory, to develop an ecological model of the processes within and between systems that contributed to community resilience. Findings suggest that resilience is supported by goals to rebuild a sense of home, a network of friends and a sense of community. We conclude that enhancing community resilience required consideration of the roles and actions of others (media, government, relief agencies) as well as an individual’s resources from existing and new networks. The multiple-system model of resilience describes the complex integration of individual and community resilience to guide people involved at the multiple levels of disaster management with strategies that support communities that experience adversity.
Issue AddressedThe COVID‐19 pandemic bears many similarities to other disasters such as bushfires... more Issue AddressedThe COVID‐19 pandemic bears many similarities to other disasters such as bushfires, earthquakes and floods. It also has distinctive features including its prolonged and recurrent nature and the social isolation induced by pandemic responses. Existing conceptual frameworks previously applied to the study of disaster, such as the Recovery Capitals Framework (RCF), may be useful in understanding experiences of the COVID‐19 pandemic and in guiding agencies and governments tasked with supporting communities.MethodsThis paper presents an analysis of interviews conducted with residents of the Australian state of Victoria in 2020–2021. The RCF was used to analyse how participant experiences and well‐being were influenced by seven forms of capital—social, human, natural, financial, built, cultural and political—with particular focus on the interactions between these capitals.ResultsSocial capital featured most prominently in participants' accounts, yet the analysis reveale...
In the chapter, we use the term companion device to refer to the growing significance of mobile p... more In the chapter, we use the term companion device to refer to the growing significance of mobile phones in accompanying children when they are out and about, and introduce the idea of media ecologies as a helpful theoretical approach. This allows us to situate mobile phone use within a broader field of social and technological relations characterising children’s mobility negotiations and communications.
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Papers by Lisa Gibbs