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Background: Social trust in relief organizations is one of the prerequisites for community preparedness for disasters. This study aims to explore the challenges of social trust in disaster management in Iran with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide recommendations for building social trust. Materials and Methods: This is a qualitative study using a conventional content analysis method. Participants were 27 lay people and managers of emergency and relief organizations in Tehran who were selected purposefully with maximum diversity. We used in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences and perceptions. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA software, version 2018 and Graneheim and Lundman’s content analysis method. Results: In this study, two main themes emerged, “challenges to building social trust” and “recommendations for building social trust.” The challenges had four categories: Managerial issues, misunderstanding of the situation, lack of transparency, and lack of coordination. The recommendations had three categories: Management improvement, efficient risk communication, and experience-based interventions. Conclusion: Social trust during disasters in Iran can be improved by transparency in the performance and tasks of relief organizations, timely and accurate provision of information (risk communication), and emphasis on social participation and solving managerial issues.

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Background: Disasters are stressful events not only for individuals who suffer from personal loss but also for the community at large. It seems necessary to study the mental health of the community in disaster situations so as to endorse their health, care planning and prevent disorders. A pure understanding of the community mental health preparedness, based on the experiences and perceptions of involved people is necessary in order to attain this aim. The purpose of this article is to put forth a subjective and comprehensive description of community mental health preparedness in disasters. Materials and Methods: A qualitative inductive content analysis method was exploited since community mental health preparedness is a subjective, context bond and complex phenomenon, which is better described based on in-depth experience and perceptions of involved people. The study consisted of 14 participants including experts and lay people. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. All interviews were transcribed and data analysis was accomplished based on qualitative inductive content analysis principles. Results: From the analysis of the data content, 5 themes were explored including 1) Cultural values and beliefs; 2) Risk beliefs; 3) Mental preparedness in disasters; 4) Psychological process; 5) Trust. Conclusion: Mental health preparedness is a multifactorial phenomenon that requires a clear understanding and definition of perceived threats, public trust on social structure and formal and informal supportive organization. This preparedness involves proportional, mental, social, familial, religious beliefs, and cultural sensitivity along with the ability to handle mentally disastrous situation, which can be measured after concept analysis and tool development process.