Ruby McGruddy, Massey University

Ruby’s Research Topic: “Natural disasters, mental health and service responses: A case study of the 2009 Samoan tsunami”

“Fieldwork in Samoa really helped me to better understand the local context, both culturally and geographically. Seeing the landscape of Aleipata, the region worst affected by the 2009 tsunami, was eye-opening. Nothing you read can compare to standing on the coast with the hills behind you and imagining the sheer terror that must have overcome the people of this region when the tsunami hit. However, faith and strong familial and communal ties provide an invaluable source of resilience. Coming together, sharing stories and finding humour in even the worst situations are just some of the ways that the Samoan people supported psycho-social wellbeing in the wake of a disaster”.

Ruby McGruddy, Master of International Development
September 2019