Course Description
An overview of disaster mental health, including information about: traumatic stress brought on by disasters and the impact that has on individuals and communities; the role of the public mental health system; the importance of continuity of operations (COOP) to ensure that routine services continue and behavioral health support for disaster survivors and responders is provided; disaster mental health skills and interventions; various disaster mental health training models that are used; and the importance of self-care for all disaster responders.
Athena Title
Disaster Mental Hlth Overview
Pre or Corequisite
DMAN 7100
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Examine the effects that traumatic events, specifically disasters, have on brain functioning, their impact on individual and community functioning, and the role disaster mental health plays in mitigating negative outcomes. 2. Prepare a disaster mental health plan that follows the FEMA COOP template and includes continuity of care for individuals who receive services and behavioral health support for disaster survivors and responders. 3. Evaluate the various disaster mental health training models for their appropriate use with different populations and scenarios. 4. Demonstrate the appropriate disaster mental health interventions that would be the most effective for given scenarios. 5. Measure responder stress using different tools and develop a self-care training program that includes stress management techniques and wellness.
Topical Outline
• History of disaster mental health • Disaster mental health responses to high-profile and small disasters • Biology of stress • Individual and community reactions to disasters • Resilience and recovery • National Incident Management System, Emergency Support Functions 6 and 8 • The unique role of the disaster mental health responders • FEMA Continuity of Operations Plan Template and COOP development • Critical Incident Stress Management • American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health • Psychological First Aid - certification • FEMA Crisis Counseling Program • Mass casualty incidents and radiological disasters • Research and role-play of disaster mental health interventions • Stress management workshop development
Syllabus