Post Disaster Mental Health Among Ethnic Minorities in Rural China: Results From Mixed Quantitative and Qualitative Studies

China has one of the countries with highest occurrence of disasters and disasters are disproportionately affecting rural area of China where ethnic minorities are inhibiting. Mixed methods of studies were conducted in rural Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Hainan province of China to understand the mental health impact and coping after natural disasters. Standardized quantitative questionnaires and over 20 focus groups were conducted among ethnic minority groups including Tai, Naxi, Li, Jiang and Hui affected by earthquake, flooding, mudslide, rain storm and snow storm. Validated psychological scales were used in quantitative studies and analyses were performed using SPSS. Guided questions were used in focus group studies and male and female participants participated separately in different groups. Focus groups were held at common area within the village and were all type recorded and transcribed for analyses. Saturation of data was reached and thematic analyses were conducted. Comparing the results from focus group with Han Chinese affected in disasters, ethnic minority reported higher resiliency and coping to the disaster from both quantitative and qualitative results. Significant distress including mood disturbance, sleep problems, worries of future disasters, medically unexplained pain, poor appetite and impact on work were observed in both Han and minority Chinese. Symptoms usually occurred during the first three months and subsided with time. The strong social bonding among minorities acted as a buffer to psychological disruption post disaster. In general, female participants reported more psychological distress of herself and her family members. Gaps in mental health service were identified. The results of the focus group suggested the resilience and strong social support among ethnic minority groups in general. More post disaster mental health services should be targeted on female ethnic minorities in China.