Abstract
Natural (e.g., earthquake, flood, wildfires) and
human-made (e.g., terrorism, civil strife) disasters are inevitable, can cause
extensive disruption, and produce chronic and disabling psychological injuries
leading to formal diagnoses (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]).
Following natural disasters of earthquake (Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand,
2010-11) and flood (Calgary, Canada, 2013), controlled research showed
statistically and clinically significant reductions in psychological distress
for survivors who consumed minerals and vitamins (micronutrients) in the
following months. Following a mass shooting in Christchurch (March 15, 2019),
where a gunman entered mosques during Friday prayers and killed and injured many
people, micronutrients were offered to survivors as a clinical service based on
translational science principles and adapted to be culturally appropriate. In
this first translational science study in the area of nutrition and disasters,
clinical results were reported for 24 clients who completed the Impact of Event
Scale - Revised (IES-R), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), and
the Modified-Clinical Global Impression (M-CGI-I). The findings clearly
replicated prior controlled research. The IES-R Cohen's
d ESs were 1.1 (earthquake), 1.2 (flood), and 1.13
(massacre). Effect sizes (ESs) for the DASS subscales were also consistently
positive across all three events. The M-CGI-I identified 58% of the survivors as
"responders" (i.e., self-reported as "much" to
"very much" improved), in line with those reported in the
earthquake (42%) and flood (57%) randomized controlled trials, and PTSD risk
reduced from 75% to 17%. Given ease of use and large ESs, this evidence supports
the routine use of micronutrients by disaster survivors as part of governmental
response.
Impact and Implications
Disasters, both natural (e.g., earthquakes,
floods) and human-made (e.g., terrorism, civil strife), affect communities
worldwide, often causing immense disruption and suffering, and lasting
psychological injuries.
Following the mass shooting in mosques in Christchurch, NZ, in March 2019,
micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) were offered to survivors as a clinical
service, and results replicated controlled research in the aftermath of an
earthquake and a flood that showed that providing survivors with micronutrients
reduced psychological distress, to a clinically significant degree, immediately
and at one-year follow-up.
This research promotes the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals number 2 (improve nutrition) and number 3 (ensure healthy
lives and promote well-being).