Monitor on Psychology - September 2011 - (Page 82)

“We have more volunteers, happier volunteers and betterinformed volunteers because of the DRN.” Rob Yin american red Cross Disaster Mental health Program industrial accidents. Such local work allows DRN psychologists to use their training to help people, but doesn’t demand a twoweek commitment away from home, says DRN Director Margie Bird. For example, DRN volunteer Kit O’Neill, PhD, of Fargo, N.D., helped organize psychologists throughout North Dakota to be on hand for flooding victims this spring and summer. Working with the state’s department of human services, O’Neill organized psychologists to provide telephone support for families in rural counties that lacked access to mental health care. In another shift from 20 years ago, the DRN focuses on building resilience before a disaster, not just during and after. The latest version of the Red Cross Psychological First Aid course — designed with input from DRN psychologists — teaches resilience and coping skills to everyone for the stresses of everyday life and disaster. Incorporating content from APA’s Road to Resilience material, the course’s goal is strengthening individual and community resilience before a disaster strikes, and giving people tools to help themselves, and their neighbors, cope better if the worst happens, Yin says. Today’s DRN is also helping to better address relief workers’ needs. Last year, the DRN’s Advisory Committee helped design a self-screening tool for Red Cross volunteers to identify those having trouble after working at a disaster scene, in order to offer follow-up assistance. DRN psychologists are also working on a predeployment screening for Red Cross volunteers to identify those who might not be in a good position to spend two to three weeks at an out-of-state disaster scene, Yin says. In another psychologist-driven change, the Red Cross is also using PsySTART, a psychological triage tool that helps volunteers and responders identify survivors who might need more long-term help. Developed by DRN psychologist Merritt “Chip” Schreiber, PhD, who also serves as the Red Cross costate disaster mental health adviser for southern California, PsySTART also tracks where mental health resources are needed most by mapping the number of people exposed to multiple risk factors. The DRN is a vital “force multiplier” for the Red Cross’s efforts, says Yin. “We have more volunteers, happier volunteers and better-informed volunteers because of the DRN.” n Expanding opportunities for psychologists As the Drn has expanded, opportunities for psychologists to volunteer and work with other groups have also increased, and awareness of the necessity to address the mental health needs caused by disasters has grown: • The National Disaster Medical System, a formerly volunteer effort started in 1984, was brought under the direction of the federal government in 2001. nDMS teams provide medical care in areas affected by disaster, at the request of state governments. At least one psychologist or other mental health professional is assigned to each team to help with the adjustment needs of fellow team members responding to the disaster. • Psychologists can also volunteer with Community Emergency Response Teams, a program coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency since 1993 to build local expertise among community volunteers in disaster response. • Psychologists also belong to teams put together by the Medical Reserve Corps, a volunteer medical response overseen by the office of the U.S. Surgeon General and organized in 2002 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. • There are also opportunities for psychologists and other mental health professionals to volunteer with the relief organizations operated by religious groups, says James McGowan, special project manager for national voluntary organizations Active in Disaster. —C. MuNSEy 82 Monitor on psychology • septeMber 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - September 2011

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court hears psychologists on prison and video game cases
Antipsychotics are overprescribed in nursing homes
New MCAT likely to recognize the mind-body connection
A $2 million boost for military and families
In Brief
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE
On Your Behalf
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Speaking of Education
SCIENCE WATCH
An uncertain future for American workers
Advocating for psychotherapy
PRACTICE PROFILE
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Seared in our memories
Helping kids cope in an uncertain world
APA and Nickelodeon team up
Muslims in America, post 9/11
Bin Laden’s death
‘They expect us to be there’
Answering the call of public policy
Candidates answer final questions
APA News
Division Spotlight
New leaders
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Disaster relief training
Honoring teaching excellence
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011