|
Dear AWP Members,
Outreach programs, media coverage, and donation requests for the disaster in Haiti were most visible the few weeks following the tragic event. The devastation, emotional, physical and fiscal losses of the people continue and as is often the case for other grief processes, even more challenging once attention by supporters is not as forthcoming after the acute phase. Below are some links to resources for us to help the people of Haiti from the NCTSN, APA, and AACAP websites. Also, if any of the members have ideas in the way that AWP as an organization could help with outreach efforts or help victims with any initiatives at our annual meeting in May in New Orleans, please email szigethye@upmc.edu or pordoric@tampabay.rr.com as your president and president-elect, so we can facilitate. For example, if there was interest, selling AWP T-shirts to benefit the victims or perhaps a walk with proceeds going to support women and children. Of course volunteers to help with any such initiatives from our members is always welcomed.
Eva Szigethy
President AWP
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
FIVE tips sheets written by a team of experts in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, mindful of cultural appropriateness. These are in English and are being translated to Creole now.
www.nctsn.org
- Tips for Parents on Media Coverage of the Earthquake (for families in the US)
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Children after an Earthquake
- Teacher Guidelines of Helping Students after an Earthquake
- Guidance for School Personnel: Students Who Had a Loved One Die in the Earthquake
- Guidance for Caregivers: Children or Teens who had a Loved One Die in the Earthquake
The pdfs can also be found on the NCTSN website.
American Psychiatric Association (APA) website
The APA Council on Research and Quality Care and the Office of International Activities is monitoring the situation, maintaining coordination with other mental health organizations responding with education, care and consultation. We are receiving information from the American Red Cross. We welcome input and information. You may contact Ms. Elizabeth Stickman, Office of International Activities, at estickman@psych.org to keep our knowledge network informed and able to provide the best information possible.
To assist in the mental health response, we have many resources on disaster psychiatry and disaster mental health care and services posted on our Web site, including: Disaster Resources for First Responders, and Providing Assistance to Victims.
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) offers recommended qualifications for foreign mental health professionals wishing to travel to disaster-affected regions in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (Action Sheet 4.1 Point 7, pages 73-74).
Additional resources and links may also be found at American Psychiatric Association, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS), and National Center for PTSD.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
Resources Links:
|
