Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention)

Abstract

Mental health affects all aspects of life, and its improvement is considered to be an effective strategy to achieve the human development indicators. This issue is of particular importance in women since they constitute half the population and play a pivotal role as family members and in survival in the periods of austerity. Enhancing mental health should be prioritized during crises and disasters when regular norms and order are replaced with chaos and disorder. With respect to public health, no individual is unaffected by such situations, while the changes are not similar in everyone. In this regard, studies suggest that women account for the majority of victims in disasters (1, 2), while other findings emphasize on the constructive role of women in families during crises (3). However, women have been less considered in health-related studies (4). Preventing mental problems in women would be possible by prioritizing them in preventive planning and educational and support programs (5). Given the importance of preventive policies in improving the mental health of the society (6), empowerment training should be implemented considering its direct association with mental health (7). One of the most effectual strategies for empowerment training involves changing the perceptions of the community toward women, which results in the enhancement of their mental health status. 

How to cite this article:bShooshtari Sh, Abedi MR, Bahrami M, Samouei R. Women’s Mental Health as the Basis of Preventive Planning for Disasters.Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention). 2017; 5(2):61 -62.