Transcript Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program Disaster Anniversary Training

Crisis Counseling Assistance and
Training Program
Disaster Anniversary Training
Objectives
After training, participants will be able to:
• Identify the key concepts of disaster anniversaries.
• Describe individual and community reactions.
• Apply individual and community intervention
strategies.
• Identify at-risk populations and intervention
strategies.
Objectives (cont.)
After training, participants will be able to (cont.):
• Identify ways to partner with the community.
• Recognize the importance of culturally competent
strategies.
• Apply strategies for managing their own stress.
• Organize and implement a plan for media
messaging.
Table of Contents
• Section 1—Disaster Anniversaries
• Section 2—Disaster Anniversary Reactions
• Section 3—Intervention Strategies
• Section 4—Partnering with the Community
• Section 5—Stress Management
• Section 6—Media Messaging and Risk
Communications
Section 1—Disaster Anniversaries
• Key Concepts
• Typical Phases of Disaster
Key Concepts
Disaster anniversaries are a time to:
• Take stock of the accomplishments of the CCP.
• Reassess the needs of the community.
• Enhance and strengthen connections with
community stakeholders.
• Continue creating educational materials and
community partnerships that promote resilience and
leave a legacy.
Typical Phases of Disaster
Adapted from the Center for Mental Health Services, 2000.
Section 2—Disaster Anniversary
Reactions
• Key Concepts
• Anniversary Triggers
• Individual Reactions
• Community Reactions
Key Concepts
• While every disaster is different, there are some
disaster reactions, related to the anniversary, that
can be anticipated.
• As the disaster anniversary approaches, there may
be an increase in the distressing reactions of some
survivors.
• There will be a need for updated educational
materials and media messages related to the
disaster anniversary.
Key Concepts (cont.)
• Anniversaries are a time to mourn losses associated
with the disaster.
• Anniversaries are a time to reflect.
• Anniversaries allow individuals and communities to
benchmark resilience and healing.
• Each community may perceive the anniversary
differently.
• Each community will decide how it will observe the
anniversary.
Anniversary Triggers
• Disaster anniversaries often trigger reactions in
survivors.
• Typical triggers include:
– Media accounts of the anniversary.
– Seasonal changes that remind survivors of the disaster.
– Personal events, such as birthdays, that correspond with
the disaster anniversary.
– Personal losses associated with the disaster, including
loved ones, pets, and property.
Anniversary Triggers (cont.)
Triggers:
• May increase in frequency around the time of the
disaster anniversary.
• Can occur unexpectedly.
• Are unique to each person.
• May not be easily recognized.
• Can ebb and flow.
• Tend to occur more often when stress is present.
Individual Reactions
• Thoughts, feelings, dreams, and memories
associated with the event
• Grief and sadness
• Fear and anxiety
• Frustration, anger, and guilt
Individual Reactions (cont.)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Avoidance
Remembrance
Reflection
Restlessness
Complicated bereavement
Gallows humor
Individual Reactions (cont.)
• Increased readiness and desire for group crisis
counseling among survivors.
• Deepened anxiety or depression, acting as
limitations, as the new reality of life after disaster
sets in.
• While every disaster is different, there are some
anniversary reactions that can be anticipated:
– Anger around the limits of governmental assistance and
insurance (e.g., “the system,” “red tape”)
– Increased substance use
– Evolution of unaddressed trauma into diagnosable
conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder or
depression
– Stress from financial hardship as resources run out
Community Reactions
•
•
•
•
Increased number of preparedness activities
Resurgence of media and political attention
Community solidarity or discord
Increased demand for CCP services because the
anniversary is triggering reactions
Section 3—Intervention Strategies
• Intervention Strategies for Individuals
• Intervention Strategies for the
Community
• Intervention Strategies for Special
Populations
Intervention Strategies for Individuals
• Educate survivors about common reactions.
• Acknowledge and discuss unresolved issues and
feelings.
• Explain how the anniversary can be an opportunity
for healing.
• Help survivors reflect on life changes.
• Use the anniversary as a catalyst to engage
survivors in practical problem solving.
• Provide educational materials for survivors.
Intervention Strategies for the Community
• Plan for increased demand for services.
• Schedule more frequent staff meetings to engage in
anniversary planning, and provide staff support.
• Participate in community gatherings and rituals by
maintaining a compassionate presence at these
events.
• Prepare press kits and media messaging.
• Create a calendar of events for staff, survivors, and
media.
Intervention Strategies for the Community (cont.)
• Reestablish contact with community groups and
leaders.
• Prepare and distribute public educational materials
that address anniversary reactions and triggers.
• Increase distribution of informational materials to
community groups and partners.
• Ensure that the helpline has added capacity.
Intervention Strategies for Special
Populations
Children and youth:
• Anticipate reminders, and help children recognize
and cope with them.
• Let children acknowledge the anniversary in their
own way.
• Be honest with children about adult reactions and
concerns.
• Limit exposure to traumatic images in the media.
• Provide opportunities for children to make positive
differences in their lives and communities.
• Discuss concerns about children with teachers and
other support professionals.
Intervention Strategies for Special Populations
(cont.)
Other populations:
• Target materials for identified special populations in
the community.
• Educate caregivers on anniversary reactions.
• Encourage and facilitate participation in community
anniversary events.
Section 4—Partnering with the
Community
• Typical Partners
• Community Partnerships
• Cultural Competence Strategies
Typical Partners
Community Partnerships
Engage new and existing partners to assist with
the following community intervention strategies:
•
•
•
•
Take part in community-planned rituals.
Help survivors take control and plan events.
Help survivors put feelings into artifacts.
Encourage survivors to reinvest in the community.
Community Partnerships (cont.)
Engage new and existing partners to assist with
the following community intervention strategies:
•
•
•
•
Help survivors develop new goals.
Strategize around media messaging.
Add capacity to the helpline.
Ensure that cultural
diversity issues
are addressed.
Cultural Competence Strategies
• Recognize the importance of culture, and respect
diversity.
• Recognize the role of help-seeking, customs,
traditions, and support networks.
• Communicate with cultural brokers, especially in
relation to anniversary reactions and rituals.
Cultural Competence Strategies (cont.)
• Update the program profile of the cultural
composition of the community.
• Ensure that services are accessible, appropriate,
and equitable.
• Reassess and reevaluate the cultural competence of
programming and staff.
• Ensure that educational and informational materials
are culturally competent.
Section 5—Stress Management
• Stress Management for Staff
• Definition of Stress
• Typical Stressors for Crisis Counselors
• Warning Signs of Excessive Stress
• Organizational Approaches to Stress
Management
• Individual Approaches to Stress
Management
Stress Management for Staff
• Staff members may be survivors themselves.
• Everyone who experiences a disaster is affected by
it in some way.
• Stress reactions are likely to increase for staff and
community partners:
– Staff have been dealing with the disaster aftermath for a
long period of time.
– Staff may be overworked.
Definition of Stress
• Stress is a response to a challenge or threat.
• Stress is tension, strain, or pressure that requires
people to use, adapt, or develop new coping skills.
• Stress can be positive or negative.
• Perception plays a key role in interpreting stressful
situations.
• An optimum level of stress can act as a motivational
force.
Typical Stressors for Crisis Counselors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Repeatedly hearing survivors’ stories
Approaching survivors who may reject your help
Feeling overwhelmed by the sadness of others
Feeling helpless to alleviate the pain of others
Experiencing trigger events
Experiencing anniversary reactions
Working long hours
Personal experience with the disaster
Warning Signs of Excessive Stress
• You cannot shake distressing images from your
mind.
• Work consumes you at the expense of family and
friends.
• You experience an increase in substance use or
abuse.
• You are excessively irritable and impatient.
• You exhibit other serious or severe reactions.
Organizational Approaches to Stress Management
• A clearly defined management and supervision
structure
• Clearly defined purpose and goals that are
articulated frequently
• Functionally defined roles that are reinforced through
effective supervision
• Sound clinical consultation, support, and supervision
• Supportive peer relationships
• An active stress management program
• A comprehensive training plan
Individual Approaches to Stress Management
•
•
•
•
•
•
Self-awareness
Management of workload
Balanced lifestyle
Stress reduction techniques
Effective supervision and training
Participation in rituals
Activity:
• Update your personal stress management plan.
Section 6—Media Messaging and
Risk Communications
• Reassessing the Media Plan
• Developing Talking Points
• Reconnecting with Media Partners
Reassessing the Media Plan
Convene a meeting of the CCP leadership and
other partners to:
• Identify spokespeople with expertise in the field of
disaster behavioral health and experience in dealing
with the media.
• Develop simple talking points that reflect the goals
and services of the CCP
• Develop a press kit with information on the CCP and
materials related to disaster anniversary issues.
Developing Talking Points
Important things to consider when developing
talking points:
• Services remain available through the CCP.
• The CCP provides information on typical disaster
anniversary reactions.
• The CCP emphasizes resilience and hope.
• Cultural diversity is respected.
• If appropriate, and while maintaining confidentiality,
highlight stories of people who have been helped by
the CCP.
Reconnecting with Media Partners
Using pre-identified spokespeople:
• Promote a shared understanding of the anniversary
message.
• Deliver a clear message regarding anniversary
issues and the CCP.
• Promote the services of the CCP, such as the
helpline, ongoing individual and group crisis
counseling, public education, and assessment and
referral.
• Share information on typical disaster anniversary
reactions and important talking points.
SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center
SAMHSA DTAC supports SAMHSA’s efforts to prepare
States, Territories, and local entities to deliver an
effective behavioral health response during disasters.
Toll-Free: 1-800-308-3515
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/dtac