Read each of the following and give a reply back to each in 3-5 sentences.
1. If the disaster can be foreseen (i.e., predisaster) disaster managers may employ intervention strategies that include communication with the public that can provide appropriate actions needed for warning and evacuation procedures, the “prepositioning of resources and supplies… and last-minute mitigation and preparedness measures’ (e.g., sandbagging before a flood and creating barriers for buildings) (Coppola, 2021, p. 399-400). Post-disaster situational awareness begins when the disaster has been recognized by response officials. Once this happens the priority as posited by Coppola (2021) is to save lives. Resources will thus be mobilized to support various stakeholders that are involved in response and recovery. Response and recovery include (e.g., water and food provisions, emergency shelter, and fatality management). Another aspect of response and recovery is proving aid to traumatized victims. Oldham (2013) describes “the most recognized dysfunction of the stress response following a disaster or other traumatic event is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (p.116, para. 2)). Response officials should have natural supports for families (e.g., counseling centers, family support groups, spiritual guidance, and meaningful activities to aid them through their distressing emotions).
Numerous ways are posited by Schultz et al. (2013) that provide mental health responses for preparing for such issues (e.g., prioritize mental health responses, guide oneself with identifying risk factors, use evidence-based guidance for mental health support, conduct and validate on-site mental health assessment, use intervention strategies that fit your specific needs, and make sure to address your postdisaster mental health needs).
Oldham (2013) provides preplanned steps that can be utilized for oneself and my teammates as (a) regular briefings, (b) mentoring new disaster response members with seasoned veterans, (c) encouraging work breaks, (d) providing security, (e) providing counseling, and (f) utilize exit interviews and counseling for both myself and my team.
Conrad and Levigne (2013) and Koenig (2007) posit that disasters threaten the personal safety of individuals involved, and given the possibility of psychological complications it is obvious that psychiatric counselors should be involved to aid in protecting the mental health of my team in the aftermath of a disaster. It is further opined by Koenig (2007) that psychological care should be available during the (a) “impact phase,” (b) “early aftermath phase,” (c) “short-term aftermath phase,” and (d) “long-term aftermath phase” (p. 934, para. 1). In summary if the psychological welfare of my team does not address there needs there may be long-term cognitive effects.
References
Conrad, E. J., & Lavigne, K. M. (2013). Psychiatry Consultation During Disaster Preparedness. Southern Medical Journal, 106(1), 99-101. doi:10.1097/smj.0b013e31827c53d3
Coppola, D. P. (2021). Introduction to international disaster management (4th ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann.
Koenig, H. G. (2007). Psychological Needs of Disaster Survivors and Families. Southern Medical Journal, 100(9), 934-935. doi:10.1097/smj.0b013e318145a66b
Oldham, R. L. (2013). Mental Health Aspects of Disasters. Southern Medical Journal, 106(1), 115-119. doi:10.1097/smj.0b013e31827cd091
2. “Disasters threaten personal safety, overwhelm defense mechanisms, and disrupt community and family structures. They also may cause mass casualties, destruction of property, and collapse of social networks and daily routines” (Conrad & Levigne, 2013, Pg.99). During a disaster, crisis managers should prioritize the mental health of survivors during this stressful time by integrating “mental health promotion and care into disaster planning and response” (Oldham, 2013, Pg. 118). To assist survivors, I would implement screening for the development of PTSD as “research indicates that after natural disasters, approximately one in three survivors will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and that many more may experience less severe anxiety disorders or depression lasting for years after the event” (Koenig, 2007, Pg. 935). I would provide ” psychosocial support in the early aftermath” of the disaster (Schultz et al., 2013, Pg. 11), and ensure that mental health services are available and easily accessible, such as through “school… for screening for and assessment and treatment of children’s mental health problems associated with disasters” (Oldham, 2013, Pg. 118) or other locally available distribution channels. Additionally, I would consider implementing evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, which “has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of” mental health problems (What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?, 2017, Para 1) through partnerships with local public health departments.
To prepare myself to deal with these issues, I would undergo “training and preparedness in incident management” and “training in stress management techniques” (Oldham, 2013, Pg. 118). Additionally, I would ensure a “clear understanding of roles and procedures” to enable efficient response in times of crisis (Oldham, 2013, Pg. 118). This training on the front end will decrease the impact of the diaster on my mental health. The better prepared I am for the event, the more I can help others assisting me with the response.
As a responder, I must acknowledge my own psychological pain and the stress experienced by my teammates. To protect ourselves from this type of injury, I would establish a supportive environment, by “partnering inexperienced workers with experienced veterans, encouraging work breaks, establishing respite areas for responders” (Oldham, 2013, Pg. 118), and providing opportunities for self-care and stress management. Additionally, after-action protocols should be in place to offer counseling and time off for workers dealing with personal trauma or loss (Oldham, 2013).
Furthermore, I would train workers to identify signs of mental health problems in their colleagues and encourage them to seek assistance when needed. To normalize mental health treatment, I would focus on “normalizing distressing signs and symptoms as much as possible and focusing more on functioning than on emotional states” (Oldham, 2013, Pg. 118). This approach will help create a supportive environment for both survivors and responders, promoting healing and recovery in the aftermath of a disaster.
Conrad, E. J., & Lavigne, K. M. (2013). Psychiatry Consultation During Disaster Preparedness. Southern Medical Journal, 106(1), 99-101. doi:10.1097/smj.0b013e31827c53d3
Koenig, H. G. (2007). Psychological Needs of Disaster Survivors and Families. Southern Medical Journal, 100(9), 934-935. doi:10.1097/smj.0b013e318145a66b
Oldham, R. L. (2013). Mental Health Aspects of Disasters. Southern Medical Journal, 106(1), 115-119. doi:10.1097/smj.0b013e31827cd091
Shultz, J. M., Forbes, D., Wald, D., Kelly, F., Solo-Gabriele, H. M., Rosen, A., . . . Neria, Y. (2013). Trauma Signature Analysis of the Great East Japan Disaster: Guidance for Psychological Consequences. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 7(2), 201-214. doi:10.1017/dmp.2013.21
What is cognitive behavioral therapy? (2017, July 31). https://www.apa.org. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral
Last Completed Projects
topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
---|