Insight Matters
Spring, 2004

Disaster mental health training continues
by Marion E. Sherman, M.D., Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Disaster Mental Health

First disaster mental health training for trainers
Members interested in increasing their disaster preparedness skills attended the third Ohio Disaster Mental Health Preparedness FEMA Training on Jan 28 and 29, 2004. This basic training was the prerequisite for the training of trainers. The first Ohio Disaster Mental Health FEMA Training of Trainers was held February 25-27, 2004. Thirteen psychiatrists attended, many of them OPA members. The training was the first of its kind in the nation, trained by three top FEMA trainers.

The Ohio Disaster Card initiative led by the Ohio Department of Health is still progressing; the card is not yet available. The color assigned to MH is purple, which will identify LISWs, LPCCs, and PhDs. Psychiatrists will be under the physician category (green). Psych nurses will be under the nurse category (blue). The data base will include self-report of clinical specialization. We are working on legislation to provide adequate professional liability coverage. There is an expanding credentialing role of the card to serve as the Ohio answer to federal medical reserve corps mandate to ODH. Under this expanded mission, the ODH Physicians/Professional Volunteers Committee has been renamed and commissioned, as the Ohio Volunteer Medical Response Corps Committee.

The new All Hazards Leadership Team (AHL) will continue the work of the ODMH Terrorism Management Team. Dr. Svendsen will chair the AHL, and Dr. Sherman will serve as Clinical Consultant to the committee. OPA Director Janet Shaw was invited and attended the first AHL Advisory Committee meeting on February 26, 2004. The Advisory Committee includes representatives from over twenty mental health associations, agencies, advocates, etc. ODMH disaster MH leadership has attained significant ODH and federal grants.

On April 3, at the OPA Annual Meeting, with the input of committee and OPA leadership, Dr. Sherman presented an Update on Disaster Mental Health in Ohio. The question and answer period and discussion were lively.

The APA Committee on Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster, led by Tony Ng, M.D., updates on national, including linkage with CMHS, CDC, ARC, APA Disaster website www.psych.org/disasterpsych.

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