PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS DURING DISASTER AND DURING DISASTER AND

TRAGEDY EVENTSTRAGEDY EVENTS

Joseph W. Hill, M.S. Ed., Chief Joseph W. Hill, M.S. Ed., Chief

Office Disaster Service Office Disaster Service InitiativesInitiatives

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A disaster or tragedy event is:A disaster or tragedy event is: “ “ an occurrence such as a tornado, an occurrence such as a tornado,

flood, earthquake, explosion, flood, earthquake, explosion, hazardous material accident, war, hazardous material accident, war, transportation accident, fire, famine, transportation accident, fire, famine, or epidemics that causes human or epidemics that causes human suffering or creates collective human suffering or creates collective human need that requires assistance to need that requires assistance to alleviate”. alleviate”.

Maybe natural or human causedMaybe natural or human caused..

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CausesCauses Examples of Examples of

natural natural disastersdisasters

BlameBlame ScopeScope Post Disaster Post Disaster

DistressDistress

Forces of natureForces of nature Severe Storm, Severe Storm,

floods, tornadoes, floods, tornadoes, No one, acts of No one, acts of

GodGod VariousVarious HighHigh

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CausesCauses

ExamplesExamples

BlameBlame ScopeScope

Post disaster StressPost disaster Stress

Human or technology Human or technology errors, purposeful acterrors, purposeful act

Plane crash, Terrorism Plane crash, Terrorism Biological, ChemicalBiological, Chemical

Person, government or Person, government or a businessa business

localized or broad, localized or broad, little advance warninglittle advance warning

Very HighVery High

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No one is untouched by itNo one is untouched by it Individual TraumaIndividual Trauma Community/Collective TraumaCommunity/Collective Trauma Diminished effectivenessDiminished effectiveness Normal response /abnormal Normal response /abnormal

situationsituation Assistance is often confusingAssistance is often confusing

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Non -traditional approach and Non -traditional approach and methodsmethods

Active genuine interest and Active genuine interest and concern.concern.

Intervention must be appropriateIntervention must be appropriate Social support systems are Social support systems are

crucial crucial 6

ChildrenChildren ElderlyElderly Severely Mentally illSeverely Mentally ill Recent Health ProblemsRecent Health Problems Prior unresolved traumaPrior unresolved trauma

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Recently Divorced/WidowedRecently Divorced/Widowed Lower socio-economic statusLower socio-economic status Refugees/recent immigrantsRefugees/recent immigrants Cultural and Ethnic GroupsCultural and Ethnic Groups Single PersonsSingle Persons

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CULTURAL SENSITIVITYCULTURAL SENSITIVITY CULTURAL DIVERSITYCULTURAL DIVERSITY CULTURAL COMPETENCYCULTURAL COMPETENCY

Cultural Competence is a continuous learning Cultural Competence is a continuous learning process that builds knowledge, awareness, process that builds knowledge, awareness, skills and capacity to identify, understand and skills and capacity to identify, understand and respect the unique beliefs, values, customs, respect the unique beliefs, values, customs, languages, abilities and traditions of all Ohioanslanguages, abilities and traditions of all Ohioans

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““Next week there Next week there can’t be any crisis. can’t be any crisis. My schedule is My schedule is already full”.already full”.

- Henry - Henry Kissinger.Kissinger.

While secretary of While secretary of state.state.

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Local MH Board/AgenciesLocal MH Board/Agencies State Mental Health State Mental Health

Authority Authority Federal Assistance (FEMA)Federal Assistance (FEMA)

Presidential Declaration Presidential Declaration 12

Assures development of emergency Assures development of emergency MH planMH plan

Ensures integration of local MH plan Ensures integration of local MH plan and local EMA preparedness planand local EMA preparedness plan

Ensure Implementation of local planEnsure Implementation of local plan Develops MOU and interagency Develops MOU and interagency

agreementsagreements Coordinate local MH resourcesCoordinate local MH resources

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Agency designates a coordinatorAgency designates a coordinator Develops agency disaster MH Develops agency disaster MH

planplan Develop a response team Develop a response team Identify key decision makersIdentify key decision makers Informational and training needs Informational and training needs Participate in local disaster drillsParticipate in local disaster drills

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Specifically trained to provide Specifically trained to provide emergency mental health servicesemergency mental health services

Participates in MH Emergency Participates in MH Emergency response trainingresponse training

Education and ConsultationEducation and Consultation Assistance to special populationsAssistance to special populations Participate in drill and exercisesParticipate in drill and exercises Implements local response planImplements local response plan

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Director authorizes utilization of state MH Director authorizes utilization of state MH resources and assistance to mitigate event resources and assistance to mitigate event

Disaster Service administrator receives Disaster Service administrator receives request for assistance from local authorityrequest for assistance from local authority

Administrator assess need w/community Administrator assess need w/community Identify available state resources.Identify available state resources. Coordinates MH assistance to impacted areaCoordinates MH assistance to impacted area Provide response and support to State EOCProvide response and support to State EOC

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Implement plan and steps to improveImplement plan and steps to improve Integrate MH emergency plans with state Integrate MH emergency plans with state

emergency management and other emergency management and other community emergency response partnerscommunity emergency response partners

Monitor, adjust response with local mental Monitor, adjust response with local mental health authority, state agency partners health authority, state agency partners and federal emergency response and federal emergency response agencies.agencies.

Debrief, Review and Assess response.Debrief, Review and Assess response.

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Assess and determine damageAssess and determine damage Protect life and propertyProtect life and property Assist state in its recovery processAssist state in its recovery process Funding via Robert T. Stafford ActFunding via Robert T. Stafford Act Individual Assistance ProgramIndividual Assistance Program Public Assistance ProgramPublic Assistance Program Other funding ASPR, HRSA, SAMHSAOther funding ASPR, HRSA, SAMHSA

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““The President is authorized to provide The President is authorized to provide professional counseling services, professional counseling services, including financial assistance to state or including financial assistance to state or local agencies or private mental health local agencies or private mental health organizations to provide such services or organizations to provide such services or training of disaster workers to victims of training of disaster workers to victims of major disasters in order to relieve major disasters in order to relieve mental health problems caused or mental health problems caused or aggravated by such major disaster or its aggravated by such major disaster or its aftermath”aftermath”

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Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance Human resourcesHuman resources FundsFunds TA in developing local plansTA in developing local plans Federal Grant application supportFederal Grant application support Collaborative PartnershipsCollaborative Partnerships Behavioral Health VolunteersBehavioral Health Volunteers Housing, Special pop., Diversity Housing, Special pop., Diversity Research and EvaluationResearch and Evaluation Inpatient care/community based careInpatient care/community based care

1.1. ODMH Behavioral Health Disaster CurriculumODMH Behavioral Health Disaster Curriculum

2.2. ODMH Psychological First AidODMH Psychological First Aid

http://mentalhealth.ohio.gov/what-we-do/provide/http://mentalhealth.ohio.gov/what-we-do/provide/emergency-preparednessemergency-preparedness

1.1. Ohio Emergency Management Ohio Emergency Management http://ema.ohio.gov/http://ema.ohio.gov/

2.2. National Incident Management System (NIMS) National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) and Incident Command System (ICS)

www.fema.gov/emergency/nimswww.fema.gov/emergency/nims

Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities www.oacbha.orgAuthorities www.oacbha.org

The Ohio Council of BH Family The Ohio Council of BH Family ProvidersProviders

www.theohiocouncil.orgwww.theohiocouncil.org Following DisasterFollowing Disaster http://publicsafety.ohio.gov/NPM/http://publicsafety.ohio.gov/NPM/

index.stmindex.stm Center for Study of Traumatic Stress Center for Study of Traumatic Stress

http://www.center http://www.center forthestudyoftraumaticstress.orgforthestudyoftraumaticstress.org

Communicating in A Crisis: Risk Communicating in A Crisis: Risk Communication GuidelinesCommunication Guidelines

http://www.riskcommunication.samhsa.govhttp://www.riskcommunication.samhsa.gov

SAMHSA Resilience and Stress Management SAMHSA Resilience and Stress Management Resource collection www.SAMHSA.govResource collection www.SAMHSA.gov

National Center fro Posttraumatic Stress National Center fro Posttraumatic Stress Disorders http://www.ptsd.va.govDisorders http://www.ptsd.va.gov

Blindsided: A managers Guide to Catastrophic Blindsided: A managers Guide to Catastrophic incidents in the Workplaceincidents in the Workplace

http://www/cmiatl.comhttp://www/cmiatl.com Mental Health Response to Mass ViolenceMental Health Response to Mass Violence

https://store.SAMHSA.gov/SMA04-359https://store.SAMHSA.gov/SMA04-359

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When preparing for crises, it is When preparing for crises, it is instructive to recall that Noah instructive to recall that Noah started building the ark started building the ark before before it it began to rainbegan to rain

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Disasters are a complex, human Disasters are a complex, human bureaucratic and political event. Routine bureaucratic and political event. Routine procedures and resources are not enough procedures and resources are not enough to manage the changes caused by the to manage the changes caused by the disaster. Planning and Coordination of disaster. Planning and Coordination of identified resources is required to identified resources is required to address the physical and mental health address the physical and mental health needs of impacted persons and needs of impacted persons and communities…...communities…...

joseph.hill@mh.ohio.gov 614-644-6996joseph.hill@mh.ohio.gov 614-644-6996

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