Disaster Mental Health Interventions

James Halpern, PhD, is Professor Emeritus and founding director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health. He has received many federal, state and United Nations grants to develop curricula and deliver trainings throughout the US and abroad. Karla Vermeulen, PhD, is the Deputy Director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health and an assistant professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz, where she oversees an advanced certificate in trauma and disaster mental health and develops trainings for disaster responders.

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

"Psychologists James Halpern and Karla Vermeulen, perhaps more than any others, have shaped the landscape of disaster mental health through their institute, program grants, publications, and the many hundreds of students who have studied with them. This book should be read by all students interested in helping survivors of disasters and investigators who hope to add to the growing research literature on the most effective interventions." Charles R. Figley, PhD, founding editor, Journal of Traumatic Stress and the Kurzweg Chair in Disaster Mental Health, Tulane University, New Orleans "James Halpern and Karla Vermeulen have written an excellent, comprehensive volume that makes a significant contribution to an increasingly important field. In clear, accessible prose, the authors provide a history and introduction to the field, and detailed, evidence-based guidance from which even seasoned practitioners will benefit. Based on their extensive experience and a deep understanding of the relevant literature, the authors tackle essential topics such as psychological first aid and occupational health issues for helpers. Disaster Mental Health Interventions is a well-organized textbook and a useful reference for those steeped in the field." Laurie Anne Pearlman, PhD, independent trauma consultant