In the wake of the natural and man-made disasters sweeping Japan, various charity organizations and individuals have jumped to the country’s aid. Food, water and shelter are vital needs to be met, but a dark shadow lurks over Japan, and cannot be squelched with donations of supplies. This shadow is the psychological damage paired with disasters.

According to a New York Times article, “Lessons for Japan’s Survivors: The Psychology of Recovery,” man-made disasters pose a greater psychological threat to victims than natural disasters. Mental recovery time for man-made disasters if often longer than natural disasters. A hurricane, for example, can easily be attributed to weather patterns and communities can gather to support each other during recovery mode. But nuclear disasters, oil spills and other man-made events introduce another factor—blame.

Benedict Carey, the author of the article, explains that victims look for someone to blame for a man-made disaster. It’s often hard to find the exact scapegoat to pinpoint, and victims begin to feel anger and resentment. Victims may find it hard to trust community leaders and officials who promised to rise to the occasion in the event of a disaster.

Carey notes that the Japanese may have a particularly difficult time moving on since it’s taboo to admit psychological problems. This makes reaching out to friends and family for support all the more difficult.

There may not always be a straightforward and simple solution to addressing psychological problems present in disaster victims, but it’s vital to find a way to help victims cope. As foreigners to Japan consider what aid to send Japanese victims, they should also reflect on the psychological affects of disaster and what means are available to help with that issue.