Alleviating the Negative Impact of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Leaks on the Physical and Psychological Health of Ethnic Minority Immigrants

Abstract

The disproportionate impact of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico on ethnic minorities, particularly the English literacy–challenged populations (e.g., Vietnamese) is an important public health concern. An understanding of the etiology and manifestation of disaster-induced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) promotes community resiliency. In emergency situations, socioeconomically marginalized ethnic minorities who are not fluent in English are at a disadvantage. These individuals often face economic and social barriers due to their limited-English-proficient (LEP) communication with government personnel, lack of scientific knowledge about the environmental hazards, and limited access to mental health care during postdisaster events. The objective of this commentary is to examine the potential impact of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Leaks on the physical and psychological health of Vietnamese ethnic minority residents living in the emergency-impact area. The article first provides a brief background of the Vietnamese residents in the area and then explores the issues of PTSD and cognitive functioning resulted from psychological traumas after a disaster. The latter part of the discussion raises the possibility of educational and public awareness about the environmental hazards and health risks through the application of different educational techniques (i.e., 3D dynamic visualizations). English literacy–challenged ethnic immigrant communities need to overcome cultural and language barriers to ensure that they receive adequate benefits, including economic and social services as well as psychological emergent interventions. The primary goal is to promote innovative educational training techniques (i.e., multimodal immersive virtual reality) for disaster-reduction behavior among LEP populations and nationwide research initiatives to serve as a prototype for standard public mental health care programs to support LEP ethnic minorities with disaster-induced PTSD.

Keywords

PTSD Vietnamese ethnic minorities disaster physical and psychological health

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