The Impact of the Lac-Mégantic Train Derailment on the Psychosocial Health of Elementary Students
In 2013, in Lac-Mégantic (Quebec, Canada), a train derailment resulted in significant loss of life and property in this small community. The article presents the psychosocial profile of young people (10 to 13 years old) and documents the impact of the exposure to this technological disaster on various aspects of their lives. Three and a half years after the tragedy, 144 students aged 10 to 13 years, completed a self-administered questionnaire in their class in two schools located in Lac-Mégantic and in two others in nearby municipalities. This study was conducted following a request from community organizations noting the limited information available on the health status of young people in the Lac-Mégantic community exposed to the train derailment. The results of the study show that direct or indirect exposure to this train accident has negative impacts on the psychological health of children, including the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder and a low level of self-esteem. Higher proportions of exposed youth also consider that the presence of stress, anxiety, or behavioral problems has a negative impact on their family and school life. This article demonstrates the importance to pay special attention to children during and after their exposure to a technological disaster in order to limit the short and long-term negative effects of disasters on their health. This is an original contribution as the majority of studies dealing with the consequences of technological disasters address the experiences of adults living either in the United States or in Europe. In addition, studies that document the impact of disasters on young people’s health have mostly been conducted as a result of natural disasters and in countries other than Canada.