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Insight
Matters
Summer, 2002
Ohio
Prepares for 911 One Year Later
by Marion
Sherman, M.D., Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Disaster Psychiatry
The
Ohio Psychiatric Association Disaster Committee year following
911 is coming to a close. As we approach the one-year anniversary
of 911, we can reasonably expect a resurgence of attention and
psychiatric symptoms in our communities. OPA members are encouraged
to use mental health disaster resources provided over the past
year when responding to media requests. While we cannot prevent
media from over stimulating those seriously affected by the
events of 911, we can perhaps sensitize media contacts to the
potential for retraumatization of original primary and secondary
victims.
Through
the upcoming year, the OPA will continue to work toward completion
of the goals and objectives listed below:
A.
Consultative Role
Goal: Provide High Level Consultation and Assistance to Emergency
Management Leadership
Update: This goal is in the early stages of process and will
obtain focus in the upcoming year.
B.
Disaster Mitigation Stage (Mitigate= "to make less
severe, less painful")
Goal: Educate and Train Regarding Mental Health Disaster, and
Encourage Local Mental Health Disaster Planning.
C.
Disaster Response Stages
Goal: Address Post-Incident Surges in Psychiatric Needs Following
Disaster/Terrorist Events:
1. Acute Event Management (Hours to days following disaster);
2. Short-Term Response Stage (Less than one month following
disaster);
Long-Term Recovery Response Stage (More than one month following
disaster).
In
the OPA Disaster Committee survey completed March 2002, remarkable
numbers of OPA members expressed a desire to train and volunteer
for mental health disaster work. Ohio Psychiatric Association
members have shown special interest in the developing curriculum
for a modified one-day mental health disaster training being
designed in collaboration with Ohio Department of Mental Health,
Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare, Ohio Department of Health,
Physicians/Professional Volunteers Committee, Ohio Emergency
Management Agency, State Medical Board of Ohio, Ohio Pharmacists
Association, Ohio Nurses Association, Ohio National Guard, Office
of the Attorney General of Ohio, American Red Cross, and ADAMH
Board of Franklin County.
We
have preliminary acceptance of a training grant to accomplish
this mental health disaster curriculum, and hope to move forward
with format and training date by autumn 2002. As soon as a date
is established, we will let membership know for scheduling purposes.
In addition, collaborative work is underway with the above groups
to establish an Ohio physician volunteer disaster credentialing
system, as well as to draft recommended Ohio legislation to
provide adequate liability coverage for disaster healthcare
providers.
As
always, the OPA office and disaster committee are available
for questions or concerns that you may develop. While traumatic
anniversary reactions can be unpredictable, and our country
has not had this type of terrorist/trauma anniversary before,
with the existent depth of skills and experience, OPA members
can continue to be a healing force in Ohio.
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