1. Foundation Impact Dutch knowledge & advice centre for post-disaster psychosocial care Ms. Josée C.M. Netten, MSc, MA j.c.netten@amc.uva.nl www.impact-kenniscentrum.nl

2. Culture sensitive post-disaster psychosocial care WHY?

3. Pre-disaster phase Ethnic minorities Lower SES: => chronic stress Migration and acculturative stress Previous traumatic events Higher exposure to disaster

4. Emergency phase Ethnic minorities Cultural insensitivity of personnel (Crisis) Communication problems due to - Language differences - Cultural differences

5. Post disaster phase Ethnic minorities (1) SES deteriorates Higher physical impact Higher psychological impact

6. Post disaster phase Ethnic minorities (2) Communication barrieres (languages, cultural differences): –Information dissemination –Culturally specific attitudes & behaviors –Mismatch treatment - patiënt needs –Drop out

7. Bijlmermeer: airplane crash involved 67 nationalities

8. Enschede: firework explosion 30% of affected belong to an ethnic minority

9. DATA Review of: Scientific literature Evaluation reports Descriptions of treatments Interviews

10. Bottlenecks Bijlmermeer / Enschede Communication barriers (language & cultural differences) affected: Information dissemination Obtaining timely and appropriate psychosocial care Drop out risk

11. Lessons Learned: importance of culture sensitive psychosocial post-disastercare Cultural competent (ethnic) professional caretakers Treatment more culturally adjusted (content, style) Translaters / translate information Outreaching / personal approach Local media Culture brokers / keyfigures Migrant / ethnic organizations

12. Recommendations Know demographic make up own region Be aware of cultural diversity Include cultural competencies in curricula Create corps of transcultural experts Remove language barriers Remove cultural barriers Develop network with ethnic organizations Collaborate with social and mental health services Culturally sensitive exercises - drills Develop knowledge centre