Psychological Impact of a Disaster
Target Audience
MDs, RNs, PAs, NPs, and EMTs, first responders, hospitals, clinics, health departments, emergency medical services, extended care facilities, HRSA entities, and emergency preparedness planning partners.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Course Description
This course will introduce regional health care professionals to how disasters (both natural and manmade), terrorist incidents (involving nuclear/radiological, chemical and biological agents), and negative media exposure influence the functioning and mental health of disaster victims.
During such an event, hospitals and dispensing sites may reach capacity in a short period of time, with victims, family members and first responders needing both medical and mental health care. In order to manage the flow of patients though hospitals or dispensing sites and identify those most in need of mental health care, professional health care staff will need special skills, knowledge and guides to gauge the severity of psychological needs and make appropriate referrals, or apply the necessary interventions to victims and the "worried well."
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive psychological reactions to disasters based on the checklist in the "Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Services Workers in Major Disasters" guide.
- Assess the severity of psychological reactions to disasters, terrorism, and negative media exposure using a quick reference checklist, and make appropriate on site referrals to mental health professionals.
- Administer psychological first-aid to victims who are among the "worried well," and apply anxiety-reducing timely interventions.