Mental health recognition in the disaster risk management through significant learning

Abstract

Disaster  Risk  Management  is  a  complex  social  process  that  seeks  reducing,  preventing  and  permanently  controlling the risk of disaster in society, taking into account aspects related to human, economic, environ-mental  and  territorial  development.  Due  to  campus  Torobajo  of  University  of  Nariño  (Pasto,  Colombia)  is placed on high and medium threat defined areas, according to data offered by the Threats Map of the Galeras Volcano, this research is aimed to evaluate the process of sensitization of the university community to  disaster  risk  management,  focusing  mainly  on  the  promotion  of  mental  health.  The  proposed  methodology  uses  the  qualitative  research  paradigm,  under  a  critical  epistemological  perspective  and  action  research. When addressing the Comprehensive Risk Management topic, specifically when referring to the mental health topic, it was identified that the participants didn’t have knowledge about it; however, they manifested the importance of being trained in psychological first aid, so that, in a crisis moment they would have the ability to reestablish the situation control. It was concluded that the Integral Risk Management, as an articulation and forces union process, aims focusing on the integral and carry out joint actions in favor of the university community and those sectors that present highly vulnerability, in order to give the impor-tance that this process deserves.