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Abstract The catastrophic earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş, Turkey in February 2023, registering magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.6, caused unprecedented destruction and significant psychological distress among the affected populations. This study engaged over 600 participants from 11 heavily impacted cities to assess the mental health repercussions of the earthquakes, focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, resilience, and overall well-being. The results revealed substantial psychological impacts, with 50.2% of the participants reporting a significant worsening of their economic situations, and notable symptoms of PTSD (mean score = 41.3), depression (mean score = 24.7), and anxiety (mean score = 22.4). Resilience scores (mean = 18.6) indicated a moderate capacity to recover from stress. Comparative analysis with other major earthquakes, such as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, suggests similar patterns of mental health challenges, emphasizing the global and enduring nature of earthquake impacts on human psychology. This study's large scale and extensive participant base provide a robust data set for understanding the full spectrum of psychological responses following a major natural disaster. The study underscores the urgent need for integrated mental health services in disaster responses to support immediate and sustained recovery. The findings advocate for policy enhancements in disaster preparedness and mental health care, emphasizing culturally sensitive approaches tailored to the needs of disaster-affected communities.
Çınaroğlu et al. (2024) studied this question.
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