Relationship Between Emergencies and Child Mental Health

Review article

Abstract

The world we live in is affected by increasing emergencies and disasters. The increase in the number of crises is significantly affected by climate change, which is also one of the significant problems of today. Earthquakes, droughts, floods, snowfall, hail, storms and fires are natural emergencies. They can also be technical-technological or caused by the consequences of the war. Regardless of the cause, emergencies disrupt social and material goods. Therefore, it is necessary to better prepare for crisis situations to preserve human life and reduce harmful consequences. Emergencies cause many consequences for the mental health of people, especially children. A child in any crisis needs acceptance, understanding and support; thus, mental health care is crucial because it ensures adequate growth and development and has positive effects on their lives and the life of society. Mental health promotion should be carried out from an early age because regular care for mental hygiene makes it easier to cope with difficulties throughout life, prepare for crisis events and faster recovery. This paper aims to examine the impact of emergencies on children’s mental health, i.e., to present a review of domestic and international professional literature that promotes the importance of preserving children’s mental health in specific situations such as emergencies in Croatia and worldwide