Today, officially, marks the 27th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant meltdown.
Doctors and scientists have spent nearly all of that time measuring and studying how toxic nuclear contaminants have affected people throughout Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and the Russian Federation. These findings, in conjunction with information gathered from public discussions and published scientific literature, have recently been published in a study conducted by Green Cross Russia, Belarus, and the Ukraine under the guidance of Dr. Jonathan M. Samet, director of the Institute for Global Health at the University of Southern California (USA) in collaboration with local partners.
“Depression, anxiety and suicide are critical elements identified in populations living in contaminated areas or removed,” said Maria Vitagliano, Director of Green Cross International’s Social and Medical (SOCMED) programme. “We are putting in place methods for early detection of suicidal tendencies, using family clubs and therapeutic camps, as well as strategic partnerships with local governments to support cases of depression.”
The study culminates the findings of several focus groups and addresses mental, reproductive, respiratory, and cardiovascular health, as well as analyzing the sources and projected damages costs.