The American Psychological Association–California Psychological Association Disaster Response Project: Lessons from the past, guidelines for the future.

Abstract

The American Psychological Association-California Psychological Association Disaster Response Project provided valuable lessons about disaster response at the local and state levels. The authors offer guidelines from the experiences of pioneers of organized disaster response and from published accounts on how to set up disaster response networks, the necessary training to become a disaster response volunteer, and how to maintain a disaster response team (e.g., tools needed, psychologists' roles, cultural diversity, and interprofessional camaraderie). Also described are the following: interventions for stress responses from victims, helpers, and children; special problems of social disasters; implications of media presence; and psychologists' roles in educating the public and government agencies about disaster response. Finally, the future of disaster response in the mental health profession is discussed.On October 17, 1989, just as the cameras began to roll for baseball's World Series game at Candlestick Park, the Loma Prieta earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay area, causing widespread damage, ending lives, and sending thousands into a state of panic. The moment had arrived for crisis intervention and for the creation of a long-term disaster response plan. The California Psychological Association (CPA) responded with vigor, and during the next 3 days, over 350 psychologists and other mental health professionals were given disaster training in crisis intervention and management of posttraumatic stress responses (Buie, 1989

conséquences à long terme des inondations de juillet 1996 sur la santé biopsychosociale des adultes agés de 50 ans ou plus /

“…Lechat (1979) Des études révèlent que les sinistrés étant exposés à un désastre ou à un sinistre peuvent vivre différents stress et des difficultés d'adaptation qui se manifestent habituellement par des problèmes psychologiques, par des changements dans l'état de santé ou par des modifications dans la condition de vie en général (Quarantelli, 1991;Robins et ai, 1986;. Il a été largement démontré que les problèmes d'adaptation des victimes de catastrophes ou de sinistres peuvent s'étendre sur plusieurs mois et plusieurs années (Aguilera & Planchon, 1995;Burkle, 1996;Murray Parkers, 1997a). De plus, les effets d'un désastre, tel que les inondations de juillet 1996, peuvent devenir délétères et perturber la vie des personnes concernées si ces dernières ne reçoivent pas l'aide convenant à leurs besoins (Aguilera & Planchon, 1995;Aldrich & Benson, 2008;Burkle, 1996;Murray Parkers, 1997a;Maltais, Robichaud & Simard, 2001a;OMS, 2008).…”

“…Il a été largement démontré que les problèmes d'adaptation des victimes de catastrophes ou de sinistres peuvent s'étendre sur plusieurs mois et plusieurs années (Aguilera & Planchon, 1995;Burkle, 1996;Murray Parkers, 1997a). De plus, les effets d'un désastre, tel que les inondations de juillet 1996, peuvent devenir délétères et perturber la vie des personnes concernées si ces dernières ne reçoivent pas l'aide convenant à leurs besoins (Aguilera & Planchon, 1995;Aldrich & Benson, 2008;Burkle, 1996;Murray Parkers, 1997a;Maltais, Robichaud & Simard, 2001a;OMS, 2008). Par ailleurs, c'est pour cette raison que des chercheurs parlent également de périodes ou suites d'événements traumatisants au moment où une analyse doit être effectuée à l'égard du processus de rétablissement des sinistrés (Aptekar, 1994;Carr, Lewin, Carter & Webster, 1997;OMS, 2008 La troisième phase se dit la phase d'impact où les sinistrés ont de la misère à croire ce qui leur est arrivé.…”

Ecologically Based, Culturally Concordant Responding Following Disasters

“…The professional context and parameters in disaster work are very different from those in traditional clinical practice (Halpern & Tramontin, 2007). Postdisaster interventions are generally very brief (one estimate indicates less than 10 minutes; Aguilera & Planchon, 1995). Postdisaster interventions are generally very brief (one estimate indicates less than 10 minutes; Aguilera & Planchon, 1995).…”

“…Consultation with local health and mental health professionals is critical following disasters in providing culturally and socially appropriate interventions (Aguilera & Planchon, 1995). Furthermore, communication among team members and consultation during treatment and/or ethical dilemmas is vital to effective intervention, as is communication with agencies as depicted in Figure 2 and in Gheytanchi et al (2007).…”

“…Perhaps the most obvious difference between traditional mental health work and disaster work is the breadth and kind of activities in which the professional engages. Postdisaster interventions are generally very brief (one estimate indicates less than 10 minutes; Aguilera & Planchon, 1995). Depending on the setting and context in which a disaster professional is assigned, there may be a more traditional role of treatment and referral, or a much broader role of informal support or psychological first aid while distributing food, clothing, or supplies, or even supportive discussions while having lunch in a local restaurant.…”