1. Disaster Psychosocial Response: “What is it
Disaster Psychosocial Response: “What is it?” 19th Annual Emergency Preparedness Conference ‘Building on Success’ October 24 – 26, 2006
Heleen Sandvik
Provincial Coordinator
Ministry of Health
Disaster Psychosocial Response Project
Vancouver, B.C.

2. GOALS for today To raise awareness on the:
Principles & Objectives of Psychosocial Response
Psychological & emotional impacts
Psychosocial services
Where psychosocial response fits in BC
Activation
Summary

3. What is psychosocial response?

4. No one who sees a disaster is untouched by it!
Lessons learned: often state that the psychosocial response was missing….
EXAMPLE: SARS outbreak in Toronto: nurses not taken care of, Hurricane Katrina victims in the dome had various issues of trauma – who was taking care of that
What is meant by psychosocial issues?

5. Objectives and Principles of a Psychosocial Response
Primary Objective:
to provide an immediate, short-term service that will help disaster or trauma survivors to restore and increase safety, confidence, competence and trust

6. Secondary Objectives To help people, so they can help themselves
To enhance individual and collective resiliency
To enhance community recovery
To enhance adaptation through ownership, responsibility and action

7. Principles of Psychosocial Response
Safety
Resilience
Ownership / partnership
Cultural context
Information/education
Collaboration

8. Normal Reactions to an Abnormal Event
Physical Reactions:
 BP, pulse & respirations
Fatigue
Nausea, upset, stomach, diarrhea
Sweating, chills
Tension in shoulders, neck, and back
Restlessness
Cognitive Reactions:
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty making decisions
Memory loss
Confusion
Excessive rumination
Emotional Reactions:
Strong identification with victims
Anger, blaming
Sadness, grief, depression, moodiness
Apathy& feelings of inadequacy, and vulnerability
Suicidal thoughts
Behavioural Reactions:
withdrawal from family & friends
 alcohol & drug use
hyperactivity, constant talking
periods of crying
sleep pattern changes

9. What are Psychosocial services?
Worker Care
Psychological First Aid
Assessment
One to one support
Crisis Counseling
Crisis Line response
Psycho-educational sessions
Group presentations
Development/ distribution of materials
Assessment of community needs
Consultation

10. Who provides Psychosocial Services?
Some Examples:
Salvation Army: personal services
Red Cross
Mental Health
Community Religious groups
Employee Assistance Programs
Victims Services
School counselors
Disaster Stress & Trauma Response Services (DSTRS)

11. DSTRS Access services through: Ministry of Health responsibility
Ministry of Health, Health Emergency Management Branch
and/or
Provincial Coordinator, Disaster Psychosocial Response Project
Ministry of Health responsibility
+600 registered therapist/clinicians
Multiple specialties; i.e. children, trauma
Province wide ability to respond
willing to volunteer their time in a disaster

12. Where does it fit in the British Columbia Emergency Response Management System (BCERMS)?

14. Where Psychosocial fits

15. Coordination of a Psychosocial Response
Why is it important?
Assessment to determine what the community psychosocial needs might be
Allocating resources based on the needs assessment, what is available and what are the priority needs
Ongoing communication with other involved agencies and government systems
Avoids gaps in services

16. Activation of Psychosocial Services
How would you activate today?
Community plan
Provincial Disaster Stress & Trauma Response Service (DSTRS)

18. Summary Principles & objectives of a Psychosocial Response
Psychological & emotional impacts
Psychosocial services
Where psychosocial response fits in BC
Activation