Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Conference
February 11-14, 1999
Laramie, Wyoming
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
DAY 4
Disaster Mental Health Program Approaches And Treatment
Day 4 began with a presentation by Debbie Rathert, M.S.W. about a programmatic
approach used in Missouri which is aimed at providing emergency disaster mental health
services. Her presentation was followed by Claude Martel, Assistant Coordinator of
Emergency Measures and Emergency Measures Advisor on psychosocial issues Measures
at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Quebec, Canada. He gave a different
perspective on psychosocial intervention in emergency situations. He described the
levels of intervention and coordination within the health and social services sectors
in Quebec. The final presentation, by Dr. Penny Dahlen, dealt with the treatment of
traumatic dreams following disasters.
PRESENTER: Debbie Rathert, M.S.W.
Disaster Services Coordinator
Missouri State Department of Mental Healthrathed@mail.dmh.state.mo.us
Debbie Rathert, M.S.W. (1999) presented information about a programmatic approach
used in Missouri aimed at providing emergency disaster mental health services. She
discussed the specific roles and responsibilities of organizations and the needs for
coordination, collaboration, and planning as ways to avoid increased levels of stress
during disasters and critical events. She pointed out the need for MOUs between groups
and organizations responding to be worked out, signed and in place as parts of relevant
disaster plans prior to any event. One example given was the challenge of collaboration
between the Red Cross and state mental health authorities - two organizations which
typically respond independently of each other. Rathert discussed the pitfalls, benefits
and challenges of establishing a collaborative relationship. With many mental health
professionals nation-wide struggling with their roles in disaster and emergency response
plans in their communities, Rathert provided an interesting model which provides ideas
and methods which can be adapted and certainly stimulate discussion.
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References
DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS (If you wish to make comments or enter
a discussion about the above presentation, topic and/or materials, please email:
odoc@mailcity.comYour comments will be posted here and others can respond.):
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PRESENTER: Claude Martel
Assistant Coordinator of Emergency Measures and
Emergency Measures Advisor on Psychosocial Issues Measures
Ministry of Health and Social Services
Quebec
claude.martel@msss.gouv.ca
Giving a different perspective on psychosocial intervention in emergency situations,
Claude Martel (1999) provided a background of emergency events in Quebec, Canada
from 1984-1992. He went on to describe the levels of intervention and coordination
within the health and social services sectors in Quebec. Emergency measures
psychosocial interventions in Quebec were outlined and include an integrated
approach, a training program, a tool kit and a practical intervention. Two major
elements were discussed involving a psychological-educative approach and an emotional
reactions normalization message. Martel presented an impact model which deals with
physical, psychological, living environment and general environment factors. He
identified phases of psychosocial emergency intervention, different clientele groups
(Primary, Secondary, Tertiary) affected by the event, a psychosocial emergency services
planning process, a grieving process, objectives of the intervention and activities,
major characteristics by age group, outline of training program for CLSC psychosocial
workers (an 8 module program), practical applications of incident debriefing sessions
and examples of how these have been implemented in major events in Quebec.
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References
DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS (If you wish to make comments or enter
a discussion about the above presentation, topic and/or materials, please email:
odoc@mailcity.comYour comments will be posted here and others can respond.):
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Penny Dahlen, Ed.D., LPC, NCC
Assistant Professor of Counselor Education
College of Education
University of Wyoming
pldahlen@uwyo.edu
Another clinical approach to post-traumatic intervention was presented by Dr. Penny Dahlen.
She provided a succinct overview of dreams and trauma as a result of disaster. She
described a stimulating and interesting clinical intervention for nightmares and
traumatic dreams following trauma. Her presentation provided a stimulus for research into
when and how dream defusing might be useful in the treatment of post traumatic stress.
Other research suggested by her presentation includes methods of slowing down recall in a
manner that would enable the individual to re-experience the trauma therapeutically.
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References
DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS (If you wish to make comments or enter
a discussion about the above presentation, topic and/or materials, please email:
odoc@mailcity.comYour comments will be posted here and others can respond.):
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Symposium Panel Here
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DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS (If you wish to make comments or enter
a discussion about the above presentation, topic and/or materials, please email:
odoc@mailcity.comYour comments will be posted here and others can respond.):
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EMAIL: odoc@mailcity.com
