Elementary school children -- Middle and high school children and adolescents -- Talking with Children -- Making Referrals -- References -- 9 Vulnerable Populations -- Frail Older Adults -- Physical Factors -- Psychosocial Factors -- Socioeconomic Factors -- Helping Frail Older Adults -- People with Physical Disabilities -- Helping People with Physical Disabilities -- People with Mental Disabilities -- Helping People with Mental Disabilities -- Other Vulnerable Populations -- People Living in Poverty -- Recent and Undocumented Immigrants -- LGBTQ Individuals -- First Responders -- References -- 10 Cultural Competence -- How Culture Shapes Reactions to Disaster -- Cross-Cultural Issues in Shelters -- Improving Your Ability to Help across Cultures -- References -- 11 Maintaining Helper Wellness and Competence -- Logistics of Deployment -- Challenges at Home or Away -- Is it the Right Time for You? -- What to Bring -- Helper Reactions -- The Compassion Continuum -- Occupational Hazards of Disaster Work -- Risk Factors for Occupational Hazards -- Self-Care -- Effective Stress Management -- Comprehensive Approach to Self-Care Practices -- Preparing Mentally for Deployment: Stress Inoculation -- Managing Stress during a Response -- Disengaging and Transitioning back to Normal Life -- Barriers to Self-Care -- References -- 12 Conclusions and New Directions -- Adapting the Response to Chronic Threats -- Forced Migration -- Chronic Political Conflict -- Climate Change -- Incorporating Technology -- The Continuing Need for Research -- A Final Note -- References -- Index

Vicarious Trauma and Disaster Mental Health focuses on the clinician and the impact of working with disaster survivors. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, mass shootings, terrorism and other large-scale catastrophic events have increased in the last decade and disaster resilience has become a national imperative. This book explores vicarious traumatization in mental health providers who respond to massive disasters by choice or by circumstance. What happens when clinicians share the trauma and vulnerability from the toll taken by a disaster with the victims they care for? How can clinicians increase resilience from disaster exposure and provide mental health services effectively? Vicarious Trauma and Disaster Mental Health offers insight and analysis of the research and theory behind vicarious trauma and compares and contrasts with other work-impact concepts such as burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress. It proposes practical evidence-informed personal strategies and organizational approaches that address five cognitive schemas (safety, esteem, trust, control and intimacy) disrupted in vicarious trauma. With an emphasis on the psychological health and safety of mental health providers in the post-disaster workplace, this book represents a shift in perspective and provides a framework for the promotion of worker resilience in the standard of practice in disaster management.

This contributed volume examines the intersection of trauma and disaster behavioral health from a lifespan perspective, filling a critical gap in the literature on disaster mental health research. In the chapters, the contributors evaluate behavioral data of adults exposed to various environmental events in both the United States (i.e., the 2017 Hurricanes Irma in Florida and Harvey in Houston) and abroad (i.e., missile fire in the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict). Contributors also suggest future directions, practices, and policies for trauma and disaster response. The three parts of the book provide an overview of disaster behavioral health across the lifespan, propose practical applications of research theories to psychosocial problems resulting from disasters and trauma, and evaluate disaster and trauma interventions from a macro-level perspective. Topics explored among the chapters include: Integrating Trauma-Informed Principles into Disaster Behavioral Health Targeting Older Adults Cultural Competence and Disaster Mental Health When Disasters Strike: Navigating the Challenges of “Sudden Science” Frameworks of Recovery: Health Caught at the Intersection of Housing, Education, and Employment Opportunities After Hurricane Katrina Substance Use Issues and Behavioral Health After a Disaster Psychosocial Recovery After Natural Disaster: International Advocacy, Policy, and Recommendations The Intersection of Trauma and Disaster Behavioral Health is a vital resource for researchers whose expertise covers the domains of trauma, health and wellness, and natural and technological disasters. The book also is a useful supplement to graduate courses in psychology, sociology, social work, disaster science, human ecology, and public health.

Who will step up to meet the challenge of the next rural crisis? Rural practice presents important yet challenging issues for psychology, especially given uneven population distribution, high levels of need, limited availability of rural services, and ongoing migration to urban centers. It is critical that mental health professionals and first responders in rural areas become aware of recent research, training and approaches to crisis intervention, traumatology, compassion fatigue, disaster mental health, critical incident stress management, post-traumatic stress and related areas in rural environments. Critical issues facing rural areas include: Physical issues such as land, air, and water resources, cheap food policy, chemicals and pesticides, animal rights, corruption in food marketing and distribution, and land appropriation for energy development. Quality of life issues such as rural America's declining share of national wealth, problems of hunger, education, and rural poverty among rural populations of farmers and ranchers. Direct service issues include the need to accommodate a wide variety of mental health difficulties, client privacy and boundaries, and practical challenges. Indirect service issues include the greater need for diverse professional activities, collaborative work with professionals having different orientations and beliefs, program development and evaluation, and conducting research with few mentors or peer collaborators. Professional training and development issues include lack of specialized relevant courses and placements. Personal issues include limited opportunities for recreation, culture, and lack of privacy. Doherty's first volume in this new series Crisis in the American Heartland explores these and many other issues. Each volume available in trade paper, hardcover, and eBook formats. Social Science: Disasters & Disaster Relief For more information please visit www.RMRInstitute.org

This timely book provides current research and skill-building information on Disaster Mental Health Counseling for counselors, educators, students, and mental health responders in agencies, schools, universities, and private practice. Recognized experts in the field detail effective clinical interventions with survivors in the immediate, intermediate, and long-term aftermath of traumatic events. -- Publisher's description.

Disasters can cause long-term disruptions to the routines of individuals and communities, placing survivors at risk of developing serious mental health and substance abuse problems. Disaster behavioral health services provide emotional support, help normalize stress reactions, assess recovery options, and encourage healthy coping behaviors. They also connect survivors to community resources that can assist the recovery process. Today’s increasing frequency and intensity of disasters merit greater focus on the development of modalities for intervention and mitigation against the psychological impacts of disaster. In Behavioral Health Response to Disasters, professionals with years of practice, research, and national advisory board service review and discuss key topics in the field. Highlighting the themes of cultural competence and evidence-based practice, this volume: Presents an interdisciplinary approach to examining specific disaster behavioral health topics Considers how an individual’s culture may impact willingness to seek out and accept services Incorporates research on vulnerable or at-risk populations who are likely to suffer disproportionately more adverse psychological consequences of disaster Discusses clinical studies of cognitive behavioral treatments for disaster-related distress and post-traumatic stress disorder In the past two decades, disaster behavioral health research, policy, and practice have grown exponentially. This volume covers the wide variety of issues in this emerging field, highlighting concerns that we must address in order to create more disaster-resilient communities.

This text provides professionals with the skills needed to effectively assist survivors of disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, with healing, recovery, and resilience. This comprehensive collection includes powerful, direct accounts of first responders and the organizations they represent. Taking a practical, skill-building approach, it offers clear and pragmatic recommendations to help providers, educators, advocates, and policymakers better understand how to meet the needs of children, families, and communities in the aftermath of disasters. Key Features Provides a substantial review of the current theoretical and research literature on disasters and disaster response Emphasizes multicultural competency in the aftereffects of disasters Uses a practical skill-building approach to develop competencies in crisis work Covers the spiritual dimensions of healing as well as funeral practices to encourage discussion on grief and mourning Intended Audience This book is a must-have reference for mental health practitioners. For graduate students of counseling, psychology, or social work, Crisis and Disaster Counseling will clarify how theory and research can be applied to practice and policy.