Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Center for Mental Health Services National Mental Health Information Center
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Training Manual

FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS
IN MAJOR DISASTERS

second edition

Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Center for Mental Health Services

This publication was produced under an interagency agreement between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Portland Ridley served as CMHS publications and -editorial coordinator.

Copies are available at no charge from the Center for Mental Health Services:

SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center
P.O. Box 42557
Washington, D.C. 20015

Toll-Free Information Line 1-800-789-2647
(TDD) 301-443-9006
FAX 301-984-8796
Website www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

All material appearing in this volume, except quoted passages from copyright sources, is in the public domain and may be produced or copied without the permission from the Administration or the -authors. Citation of the source is appreciated.

DHHS Publication No. ADM 90-538
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Printed 2000

Author
Deborah J. DeWolfe, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.
Editor
Diana Nordboe, M.Ed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A special thanks to the following disaster mental health experts for their thoughtful reviews and invaluable comments. Their contributions have greatly enhanced this Manual.

David Clough, M.P.H.
Public Health Advisor
Emergency Services and Disaster Relief Branch
Division of Program Development, Special Populations and Projects
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Mary Elizabeth Nelson, M.S.W.
Chief

Emergency Services and Disaster Relief Branch
Division of Program Development, Special Populations and Projects
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Bob Benedetto, D.P.A., L.C.S.W.
Disaster Coordinator
Ventura County Behavioral Health
State of California

Holly Finan, M.A.
Disaster Mental Health Coordinator
State of Washington

Anthony H. Speier, Ph.D.
Disaster Consultant
Director of Community Services
Office of Mental Health
State of Louisiana



TABLE OF CONTENTS
Return to Emergency Services

PREFACE

SECTION 1: BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
Purpose of the Manual
Overview of Resources

SECTION 2: RESPONSES TO DISASTER
Characteristics of Disasters
Survivor/"Person" Characteristics
Disaster Relief Efforts
Phases of Disaster
Key Concepts of Disaster Mental Health
References and Recommended Reading

SECTION 3: DISASTER REACTIONS OF POTENTIAL RISK GROUPS
Common Needs and Reactions
Age Groups
Disaster Reactions and Intervention Suggestions
Cultural and Ethnic Groups
Socioeconomic Groups
People with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness
Human Service and Disaster Relief Workers
References and Recommended Reading

SECTION 4: STRESS PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT
Organizational Context
Individual Context
Stress Prevention and Management Methods
Organizational Approaches for Stress Prevention and Management
Individual Approaches for Stress Prevention and Management
Signs and Symptoms of Worker Stress
Rewards and Joys of Disaster Work
References and Recommended Reading

SECTION 5: SETTING UP DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TRAINING
Initial Start-up Training
Comprehensive Disaster Mental Health Training
Setting Up the Training
SECTION 6: COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING COURSE OUTLINE
Course Overview
Disaster Mental Health Course Outline
  1. Introduction
  2. Disaster Information
  3. Organizational Disaster Response Network
  4. Phases of Reactions to Disaster
  5. Adult Reactions to Disaster
  6. Disaster Mental Health Interventions
  7. Children in Disaster
  8. Special Populations in Disaster
  9. Planning Workgroups
  10. Stress Prevention and Management
  11. Program Implementation
Overheads
Handouts
Disaster Mental Health Course Objectives
Age-Specific Interventions for Children in Disaster
Special Concerns of Older Adults in Disaster
Cultural Sensitivity and Disaster
Planning Workgroup
Common Disaster Worker Stress Reactions
Professional Self-Care
Videotapes
References

SECTION 7: ADDITIONAL TRAINING NEEDS AND OPTIONS
Training for Paraprofessional Staff
Training for Human Service Workers
Topics and Considerations for In-service Training

NEXT

ADM 90-538