Mechanism and strategies for preventing post-traumatic stress disorder in forensic workers responding to mass fatality incidents

Coping with Work‐related Traumatic Situations among Crime Scene Technicians

“…Secondly, the results on the correlations between post-traumatic symptoms and avoidance strategies show that higher levels of post-traumatic symptomatology and its consequences are linked to the more frequent use of the behavioural avoidance strategies and, additionally, that the use of the cognitive avoidance strategies is related only to symptoms typical of PTSD (re-experiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal) and those experienced during the course of a traumatic event. This leads to suspecting that the dominant use of avoidance coping hinders the processing of traumatic experience, which is also supported by findings in other literature (Brondolo et al, 2007). Furthermore, the results show that the behavioural avoidance employed to process the posttraumatic symptomatology seems to be less efficient than the cognitive avoidance.…”

Protecting Mental Health of Hospital Workers after Mass Casualty Events: A Social Work Imperative

“…More generally, promoting availability and use of mental health services on an ongoing basis-from counseling to substance addiction services-will foster a higher baseline level of mental hygiene, and thus greater resilience if disaster strikes. In addition, an open and transparent organizational culture at the hospital level can foster a sense of community and connectedness that can help prevent and decrease levels of vicarious trauma (Brondolo, Wellington, Brady, Libby, & Brondolo, 2008). Numerous studies have found that organizational factors (processes, characteristics, climate) are the most important predictors of first responder well-being and stress, rising above exposure to traumatic incidents (Burke & Paton, 2006;Paton, Violanti, & Smith, 2003).…”

Post traumatic stress disorder and the forensic radiographer

“…In the case of forensic radiography, mass fatalities work involves the process of recovering and identifying large numbers of victims or body parts 10 . Radiographers responding to mass fatalities incidents may be at increased risk of PTSD.…”

“…Under the UK Health and Safety at Work Act 27 Training and education prior to deployment, which attempts to change expectations about the event, can make it more likely that "sensations, perceptions, emotions and thoughts will be recognized and integrated into existing ways of thinking about events and emotions." 10 . It has also been argued that shift rotations should be utilised to enable a shorter duration of deployment 13 .…”

“…PTSD symptoms are likely to develop when the traumatic event (and the radiographer's own physical and mental response to the event) are outside their preexisting understanding. Events that are unpredictable, uncontrollable, or threatening, such as mass casualty events, are more likely to be perceived as stressful and increase the risk of PTSD10 . For radiographers undertaking mass fatalities work, the move from the structured environment of the hospital to working in field conditions can be disorientating and traumatic.…”