Disaster recovery work temporarily boosted short-term physical and mental benefits for men

New Northwestern University research aims to shed light on what drives inequalities among men in the aftermath of megadisasters. In such situations, men are often depicted as heroic leaders, and this study finds that many of them experience improved mental and physical health while assisting with recovery efforts. However, for some men, the boost is short-lived once recovery activities are completed, leading to emotional lows and potentially increasing the risk of suicide.