LAUSR

Abstract Objectives Natural disasters of any form leave the individuals in agony. Mental and social health is among the notable domains affected by such disasters. According to WHO, 22% of the people living in an affected area express the symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. It is a real challenge to bring harmony among these affected individuals. Though there are many conventional mental health strategies, the effect of Yoga, which is reported to reduce mental disorders to a greater extent has not been studied in such emergencies. Methods Thirty-two participants [Mean age 37.8(SD±8.9)] victims from a flood-affected state of India were enrolled for 15 days of yoga interventions after obtaining written consent. Breathing exercises and guided relaxation techniques were provided as intervention after obtaining a self-rated visual analog scale (VAS) for fear, sadness, anxiety, and lack of sleep. Results All the participants completed the study. Statistically significant changes were observed (P Discussion Fifteen days of yoga interventions in victims of the flood-affected region might offer resilience to the participants. Results of this study are encouraging and yoga can be introduced for addressing mental health issues in such emergencies and can be a valuable tool. However, more studies with robust designs and focused tools to determine the effects are warranted.