Feasibility and Acceptability of SOLAR Group Program on Decreasing the Distress and Secondary Traumatization of MHPSS Workers After the Earthquake in Türkiye

A disaster can be defined as a significant disturbance in the operation and well-being of a community resulting from the convergence of hazardous events with factors such as exposure, and vulnerability. Disasters are grouped into two main categories: natural disasters and technological disasters. Many individuals who survive these disasters face an increased risk of psychological distress and psychopathology, including depressive disorders or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms include intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, arousal and reactivity, or even dissociation. However, as well as being directly exposed to the event, trauma can be indirect by witnessing the event experienced by others and the impact of indirect trauma can be just as significant as that of direct trauma. Family members, friends, neighbours, coworkers, and professionals assisting the primary victims may also undergo similar traumatic symptoms. Many professionals from various fields, such as doctors, nurses, first responders, and mental health workers, are dedicated to helping disaster survivors' short-term and long-term needs. Therefore, they experience similar symptoms of survivors, including re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders of the event, detachment from others, irritability, and persistent arousal like difficulty sleeping. The development of these symptoms due to close contact with the survivor is called secondary traumatic stress (STS). After disasters, it is important to consider the mental health of people who are secondarily exposed to trauma and those who experience the trauma.

Psychological distress refers to an individual's distinct unpleasant emotional state when confronted with a particular stressor, which subsequently damages the person. It is frequently used to describe a wide range of symptoms, including depression and general anxiety symptoms as well as personality traits and behavioral issues. After an exposure to a disaster, many individuals encounter mental health challenges and are more susceptible to developing psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These syndromes result in psychological distress and dysfunctionalities in the individual's psychosocial and occupational lives. The symptoms can be seen not only in people who experienced the disaster but also in those who communicated with them. Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) workers face a distinct aspect of their job, which involves being exposed to their clients' experiences of trauma. They introduce interventions in areas such as health, education, abuse and violence, and emergencies to help survivors to deal with the mental health impacts of those experiences. Therefore, MHPSS workers are at risk for developing symptoms of secondary traumatization and psychological distress.

On February 6, 2023, two major earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 struck Türkiye and Syria, centered in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye. Over the course of one month, various numbers of aftershocks continued. This catastrophic event affected approximately 13 million people in 11 Turkish provinces. 50,783 Turkish citizens died and countless individuals lost their loved ones, their homes, and their jobs. This disaster inflicted immense suffering on people in the country, and they had to deal with many major life-changing impacts and issues. The earthquake affected not only the people in the region but also those who went to the region to offer help, and those who observed the unfolding events. Psychosocial support institutions and mental health professionals were some of the ones who went to the region to assist. Interventions should be designed for mental health professionals regarding the secondary traumatization they might encounter in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Skills for Adjustment and Resilience (SOLAR) Program was formed by a team consisting of 21 experts from around the world with expertise in trauma, disaster mental health, and disaster response, representing the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and Asia. It was designed for the need for practical interventions to address the psychosocial needs of trauma and disaster survivors with subclinical mental health issues. The SOLAR program was intended to be efficient, adaptable in various settings, and easily applicable for trained laypersons and professionals to reach more people with subclinical distress following a traumatic event. It also has a trauma processing unit specifically designed for traumatized individuals. Each session lasts 50 minutes, except for the first session, which is 80 minutes and is delivered face-to-face over five weeks. The SOLAR program was effective in the pilot study with 15 bushfire survivors in Australia (O'Donnell et al., 2020). Furthermore, its effectiveness in reducing depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms in a group format was also confirmed with 79 people in Tuvalu affected by Tropical Cyclone Pam. Lastly, the program was feasible and useful for improving coping with traumatic events among German trauma survivors with persistent subclinical distress.

This study aims to provide the feasibility of a culturally adapted version of the SOLAR program among MHPSS workers who provide psychological or psychosocial support to the survivors of the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, in Türkiye. As an intervention program, SOLAR aims to examine subclinical distress and adjustment problems following a traumatic experience, in this case, an earthquake. The primary inquiry of this study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing the SOLAR group program within an open trial among 20 MHPSS workers in the aftermath of a trauma. In addition to the feasibility, the study aims to decrease participants' distress levels as the primary outcome and their secondary traumatization, depression, and anxiety levels as secondary outcomes.