Insight Matters
Spring 2005

Joining Forces Conference; an Innovative Look at Terrorism and Disaster

Continuing to lead the nation in addressing community behavioral response to disaster and terrorism, the Ohio Department of Mental Health, Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction, and the Ohio Psychiatric Association, in concert with twenty other co-sponsors, held a two day state wide conference in April. This effort was well attended by over three hundred participants. Emergency first responders including police, active duty and reserve military, and firefighters, came together with mental health workers, (including psychiatrists) to cross train on the behavioral health impact of terrorism and disasters.

The result was to help the citizens of Ohio in all aspects of readiness, response and recovery. This went hand in hand with the program of the last two years, to train behavioral health workers in working with first responders and community leaders when a disaster occurs.

Keynote speakers included our own Dale Svendsen, M.D. Medical Director, Ohio Department of Mental Health, who has had a key role in the preparations of our state to disaster He has been instrumental in including psychological response considerations in disaster response.

Marion Sherman, M.D., President Elect of the OPA and the first Chair of the OPA Disaster Committee, along with Sridhar Jatla, M.D. and Doug Smith, M.D., addressed general anxiety/coping states and introducing a behavioral health component into Emergency Operations Centers. This is a major state goal and is related to the training many of us have had over the last two years, aimed at implementing high level consultation, to assist disaster leadership at the state level. Dr. Sherman has been a consistent advocate for our inclusion.

Kenneth Miller, M.D., who is an active political advocate for psychiatry in Central Ohio, presented, along with Max McGee, M.D., Leah Jaquith, Ph.D., and Ron Reese, on behavioral responses to disaster focusing on natural disasters. One example used was the 2004 flood in Marietta, Ohio. The presenters discussed the realities of individual and collective trauma after such a disaster.

James Wasserman, M.D. presented on the Terrorist Mind-Inside and Outside, focusing on the foundations of terrorist groups. His work is based on longstanding experience in Medical Intelligence. The main focus was on Islamic based terrorism, but also included home grown terrorism in the United States.

Other presentations of interest to physicians and psychiatrists, included workshops on the role of hospital based behavioral health units in a disaster; post-deployment behavioral health issues of retuning military; the threat of bioterrorism; trauma and substance abuse; and the role of spirituality in trauma.

Clearly the conference was a success thanks to the hard work and organizational efforts of the key sponsors. Continuing education credits were offered to a large group of professionals, including CEU's, CME's and educational credits for attorneys. With the broad based attendance and the obvious interest of the attendees, this conference may well become an annual event.

With the knowledge that disasters are sure to occur and that there is a constant threat of terrorism, Ohio has taken national leadership in incorporating and recognizing the pivotal role of behavioral health in any response scenario. In this effort the Ohio Psychiatric Association has assumed a vital role.

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