Symposia
Disaster Mental Health
Mikaela Raley, M.S.
The University of Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi
Stefan E. Schulenberg, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi
Taylor, Mississippi
Background: Natural disasters are on the rise and are associated with a myriad of deleterious outcomes. Most individuals living in disaster-prone regions are underprepared for disasters. Despite the negative impact of disasters on behavioral health, disaster behavioral health resources in times of a disaster tend to be scarce. Community-based interventions are an overlooked but promising solution. The community-based psychological first aid (CBPFA) model focuses on training non-mental health professionals to reduce and manage both acute symptoms of traumatic stress, as well as everyday stressors, by implementing basic psychological support techniques. Training community members in CBPFA in disaster-prone areas has the potential to increase the psychological resilience of the trainers, the disaster survivors they aid, and the resilience of the community overall.
Method: Our study, examining current knowledge of CBPFA and general knowledge following a crisis event, provides evidence for what university students are and are not prepared for in relation to disasters.
Results: Although this research was conducted in a tornado-prone region, less than half of the participants endorsed being “fairly concerned” about the effects of a tornado, with a little over half stating there is a 50-70% chance of a tornado occurring in Mississippi in the next year. Specific themes for what students are most prepared for include understanding the goal of CBPFA, as well as the need to research more information on the situation and available resources and practicing self-care. Conversely, students reported less confidence with the following themes related to assisting after a crisis: knowing when to refer out for psychotherapy, how to properly engage in active listening and effective communication skills, and rates of resiliency in the community.
Conclusion: Creating a Community-Based Psychological First Aid protocol is imperative in today’s society with global crises occurring at an alarming basis. By understanding which facets of providing support to others during a crisis community members are prepared and unprepared for, can help mental health specialist cater their workshops to addressing these concerns.