This Manual represents a first effort to produce a training instrument to be used in the development of an effective response to the emotional problems which may occur when a major disaster disrupts the functioning of individuals, families, and communities. It discusses the principles and techniques of crisis intervention, which aim: to relieve current emotional stress and to forestall or diminish future emotional difficulties. This Manual includes techniques which have been developed from thousands of emergency calls to a Suicide Prevention Center and have been adapted to the kinds of problems which are caused by major disasters.

In the devastation that follows a major disaster, there is a need for multiple sectors to unite and devote new resources to support the rebuilding of infrastructure, the provision of health and social services, the restoration of care delivery systems, and other critical recovery needs. In some cases, billions of dollars from public, private and charitable sources are invested to help communities recover. National rhetoric often characterizes these efforts as a "return to normal." But for many American communities, pre-disaster conditions are far from optimal. Large segments of the U.S. population suffer from preventable health problems, experience inequitable access to services, and rely on overburdened health systems. A return to pre-event conditions in such cases may be short-sighted given the high costs - both economic and social - of poor health. Instead, it is important to understand that the disaster recovery process offers a series of unique and valuable opportunities to improve on the status quo. Capitalizing on these opportunities can advance the long-term health, resilience, and sustainability of communities - thereby better preparing them for future challenges. Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters identifies and recommends recovery practices and novel programs most likely to impact overall community public health and contribute to resiliency for future incidents. This book makes the case that disaster recovery should be guided by a healthy community vision, where health considerations are integrated into all aspects of recovery planning before and after a disaster, and funding streams are leveraged in a coordinated manner and applied to health improvement priorities in order to meet human recovery needs and create healthy built and natural environments. The conceptual framework presented in Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters lays the groundwork to achieve this goal and provides operational guidance for multiple sectors involved in community planning and disaster recovery. Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters calls for actions at multiple levels to facilitate recovery strategies that optimize community health. With a shared healthy community vision, strategic planning that prioritizes health, and coordinated implementation, disaster recovery can result in a communities that are healthier, more livable places for current and future generations to grow and thrive - communities that are better prepared for future adversities.

This text assists mental health clinicians and traumatologists in 'making the bridge' between their clinical knowledge and skills and the unique, complex, chaotic and highly political field of disaster. It combines information from prior research with the authors' practical experience in the field.

Disaster mental health is a growing field of practice designed to help victims and relief workers learn to effectively cope with the extreme stresses they will face in the aftermath of a disaster. The goal of disaster mental health is to prevent the development of long-term, negative psychological consequences, such as PTSD. This book assists clinicians and traumatologists in "making the bridge" between their clinical knowledge and skills and the unique, complex, chaotic, and highly political field of disaster. It combines information from a vast reservoir of prior research and literature with the authors' practical and pragmatic experience in providing disaster mental health services in a wide variety of disasters.

The first comprehensive resource for pastoral care in the face of disaster—a vital resource for clergy, seminarians, pastoral counselors and caregivers of all faith traditions. Updated and expanded! This essential resource for clergy and caregivers integrates the classic foundations of pastoral care with the unique challenges of disaster response on community, regional and national levels. Offering the latest theological perspectives and tools—along with basic theory and skills from the best disaster response texts, research and concepts—the contributors to this resource are innovators in their fields and represent Christianity, Judaism, Islam and more. New to this edition are chapters on: N-VOAD Points of Consensus and Guidelines—A Developing Conversation Ethics in Disaster Spiritual Care Assessment Developing a Theological Framework for Providing Disaster Spiritual Care And More Exploring how spiritual care changes following a disaster, and including a comprehensive explanation of a disaster's lifecycle, this is the definitive guidebook for counseling not only the victims of disaster but also the clergy and caregivers who are called to service in the wake of crisis.

This volume is part of a series of publications which contain practical guidance to assist policy-makers and planners in member countries with policy development to address public mental health needs and service provision. It focuses on human resource management and training, issues which are particularly important as its workforce is the most valuable asset of an effective mental health service and often accounts for the largest portion of the annual budget.