Symposia
Disaster Mental Health
Tara Powell, M.P.H., Ph.D., MSW
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Urbana, Illinois
Paula Yuma, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
Jen Scott, PhD, MSW
Assistant Professor
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
In August and September 2017, Hurricanes Harvey and Maria devastated Southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. Harvey led to massive flooding and displacement of thousands of individuals. Maria devastated Puerto Rico, leaving many without access to clean water and food. Healthcare workers (HCW) were among the first to respond to these hurricanes, providing ongoing healthcare, psychological support, and playing a crucial role in rebuilding communities. Many were also from the affected communities, experiencing the dual role of survivor and provider, and thus at high risk for psychological distress. We evaluated the Resilience and Coping for the Healthcare Community (RCHC) tiered intervention model designed to support HCW well-being in the aftermath of a disaster. The RCHC model includes a 3-hour psychoeducational group work session, and two follow-up support groups that incorporate cognitive behavioral and solution focused techniques. The study was conducted between April 2018-November 2019 with N=699 providers in Texas and Puerto Rico. We used a two-arm clustered non-randomized control trial examining the trajectory of mental health symptoms among those who participated in the RCHC intervention model compared to a control condition. Participants completed standardized measures at four time points that assessed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, coping, and professional quality of life. Linear mixed models (LMM) analyzed program effects across time points. Individuals who participated in the RCHC reported significantly greater reductions in anxiety, PTSD, and secondary traumatic stress than those in the control group at post-intervention and follow-up measurement time points. Participants in both groups reported reduced burnout and increased compassion satisfaction across time, however we did not detect significant differences between groups across time. This study is among the first multi-site studies exploring an intervention designed specifically for disaster affected HCW. The promising findings from this study can inform the field on effective psychological interventions to support HCW during and after large-scale collective traumatic events.