Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 4 Coordinating Services 79
that incorporated the big picture scope of disaster along with more nuanced
training in specific, individualized intervention strategies to promote
recovery from disaster. This model first covered the macroscopic aspects
of disaster—including the definition of disaster, classification of subtypes
of disaster, and planning and response phases of disaster planning—before
focusing on typical and atypical human responses to disaster and disaster
management. While comprehensive, the curriculum was not overly technical,
allowing the information to be disseminated by instructors who
received 3 days of intensive training in the material and manual. These
trained instructors were expected to reach across the state and re-perform
2 days of training for those deemed disaster mental health responders
in the event of significant disaster and deployment. This model has the
distinct advantage of including a detailed registry, periodically updated
to ensure adequate responder resources.
As this training model highlights, there is a need for disaster mental
health responders who are aware of and know how to utilize and participate
in large-scale, systemic responses to disaster. While this macroscopic
viewpoint is critical, it is also essential to acknowledge that individual nuance,
family and cultural background, previous mental health history, and
prior disaster exposure or experience will all color an individual’s response
to disaster, as well as their response to intervention efforts. This highlights
the critical and instrumental nature of the helping relationship/process,
the bedrock of all successful disaster mental health response.
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