Disaster Mental Health Interventions

James Halpern, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Counseling and Founding Director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health at The State University of New York at New Paltz. He has given numerous scholarly and training presentations on trauma and disaster mental health throughout the US and abroad. He has consulted for the United Nations on Assisting Victims of Terror. He received the Lifetime Mission Leader award from the American Red Cross.Karla Vermeulen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz, where she formerly served as the Deputy Director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health. She has developed multiple training curricula for organizations including the American Red Cross, USAID, the United Nations, and New York State agencies including the Office of Mental Health, Department of Health, and Division of Emergency Services, and she has trained professionals including healthcare providers, funeral directors, judges, and librarians, as well as mental health professionals.

• Introduction. Chapter 1 What Is Disaster Mental Health? Chapter 2. Describing Disasters. Chapter 3. Typical Reactions. Chapter 4. Early Interventions: Psychological First Aid. Chapter 5. Early Interventions: Other Actions. Chapter 6. Disaster Loss and Grief. Chapter 7. Disaster’s Impact: Extreme Reactions. Chapter 8. Children and Families. Chapter 9. High-Needs Populations. Chapter 10. Cultural Considerations. Chapter 11. Practical Considerations and Self-Care for the Responder. Chapter 12. Conclusions and New Directions. Index.

This is an essential text for any mental health professional who wishes to serve communities ethically and effectively in the aftermath of a disaster. The authors skillfully weave together case studies, practical examples, and current research in a way that easily engages the reader. The book sensitively covers grief, loss, the needs of different community members, and taking care of ourselves as helpers. I use it in my teaching!--Erika Felix, Ph.D., Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara "In the second edition of Disaster Mental Health Interventions: Core Principles and Practices, James Halpern and Karla Vermeulen update their landmark publication with a broad focus that allows a reader to find the best and most recent thinking on disaster mental health in one volume. This book is a primary reference book for all professionals who may be confronted with disasters in their communities, while also written in a style that invites reader engagement."Richard G. Tedeschi, Ph.D., Executive Director, Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth