SAMSHA Webcasts Highlight Fundamentals of Disaster Mental Health
In response to the overwhelming need to ready crisis counselors for assignments assisting the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration launched a Web- based training series, "Fundamentals of Disaster Planning and Response." This series was created as streaming video "Webcasts" including topics such as:
- Key Concepts in Disaster Mental Health Managing Your Stress in Crisis Response Work Psychological First Aid Approaches
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Disasters
Quick Links...
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Dear Crisis Counselor:
As you may recall, in the last edition of New Jersey
Crisis Counselor, Alan Kaufman recounted his many
years leading New Jersey's mental health system
and his pride in the work of New Jersey's disaster
mental health system. Under his leadership, the
New Jersey Division of Mental Health Disaster and
Terrorism Branch has become an instrumental part
of emergency response throughout the State and beyond.
As the newly appointed Assistant Commissioner for
the Division of Mental Health, I assure you that
the Disaster and Terrorism Branch has my support
in the crucial work we do in responding to the emotional
needs of people during traumatic events.
More from Asst. Commissioner
Martone...
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| Mental Health Support for Katrina Evacuees |
When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the
gulf region cities as a Category 4 storm
on August 29th, 2005, the nation held its
breath. All eyes were on New Orleans, where
concern had been expressed for years that
the city’s infrastructure could not
withstand the impact of such a storm. As
the nation breathed what would turn out
to be a temporary sigh of relief when the
city seemed to survive the direct hit from
the storm, many New Orleans residents, now
living in various New Jersey communities,
say that they knew better. The residents
of the now infamously devastated Lower Ninth
Ward of New Orleans were all too painfully
aware of their vulnerability in that section
of the city. And as events continued to
unfold, their fears turned out to be well-
founded.
More about psychosocial
supports for Katrina evacuees.... |
| New Jersey's Pandemic Influenza Mental Health Plan |
Scientists have long predicted the appearance
of an influenza virus capable of killing
unimaginable numbers of people. The avian
flu, H5N1, has shown signs of becoming that
disease.
The White House report on pandemic influenza estimates that potentially 1.9 million deaths may occur in the U.S. alone before a viable vaccine becomes available. The social and economic impact of such an outbreak would be devastating, and the psychological response would present mental health professionals with an unprecedented challenge in providing meaningful support and intervention. Although it is believed that no state or nation is fully prepared for such an event, New Jersey has developed a robust plan for managing the psychological consequences of a pandemic. In partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services, the Division of Mental Health Services - Disaster & Terrorism Branch has developed a pandemic influenza mental health plan, and provided expert opinions on the federal Health & Human Services plan as well.
Learn more about the role of mental
health responders in New Jersey's pandemic
influenza plan....
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| Ocean County's Emergency Response Committee |
States from around the nation often look
to New Jersey as a model for a statewide
disaster mental health system. The New Jersey
system is at the same time, one of the oldest
and yet most innovative programs in the
country. The success of New Jersey's system
is due largely to the efforts of dedicated
volunteers at the local and county level.
The Ocean County Emergency Response Committee
(ERC), with more than twenty years of experience,
has been a critical resource to the broader
response system since its inception. The
following interview with Jill Perez, Ocean
County’s new Mental Health Administrator
and coordinator of the ERC, highlights some
of the achievements and challenges for the
ERC over their two decades of services.
Read more about the Ocean County
ERC... |
| Hostility and Rage Management in Disaster Counseling |
Violence
and civil unrest are always a possibility
in the wake of any disaster. When emotions
are extreme, anger and frustration are often
directed at authorities and those perceived
to have responsibility for the disaster
or aspects of the response and recovery.
These dynamics were in part responsible
for fueling lawlessness and aggression in
the days after Hurricane Katrina. In communities
with great socio- economic disparity, anger
and frustration can be a constant undercurrent
in daily life, but the increased stress
resulting from a disaster can easily ignite
strong emotions that are otherwise simmering
below the surface.
Anger is a natural response to situations in which we feel threatened, feel that harm will come to us, or believe that another person or group has deliberately wronged us. All three of these perceptions are common during the response and recovery phases of a disaster. In everyday life, anger may also result from frustration when our basic needs, desires and goals are not being met. It is foreseeable that we may lose our patience, and act impulsively, aggressively, or violently when angry. Since this risk is foreseeable, it is incumbent upon crisis counselors and their supervisors to develop strategies and systems for safely delivering disaster counseling in emotionally charged environments. |
| First 300 Mental Health Responders Complete NIMS Training |
In July 2005, Acting Governor Codey
signed an Executive Order mandating that
all first responders receive training in
the new National Incident Management System
(NIMS). This order pertained to both traditional
first responders, such as police, fire and
rescue personnel, and non-traditional first
responders, such as clergy, public health
and mental health workers. As a core component
of the National Response Plan, NIMS is the
structure that guides all aspects of emergency
response during an emergency event. NIMS
is a resource management tool that allows
emergency response managers to coordinate
and command all aspects of the response
for emergencies of all types and all sizes.
To operate in a safe and secure manner on
scene, all responders, including mental
health counselors, must work within the
NIMS structure.
More about the NIMS training programs... |
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