Effect of Disasters on Mental Health: Technical Level
Course Summary
There are three modules in this course:
- Section 1: Assessment and Intervention in the Immediate Aftermath of a Disaster
- Section 2: Assessment and Intervention in the Weeks/Months after the Disaster
- Section 3: Cultural Awareness
There are review questions at the end of each section. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these sections. In addition, some sections contain practice exercises to help you better understand the material.
Intended Audience
Anyone who will come into professional contact with disaster victims, including DMAT, hospital workers, EMTs, primary care providers and public health workers
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you will be able to:
- Assess the psycho-physiological impact of trauma.
- Describe mental health interventions used during and in the immediate aftermath of a disaster in order to provide psychological stabilization.
- Determine who may benefit from mental health intervention.
- Administer mental health interventions to disaster victims as appropriate.
- Distinguish between a normal and pathological reaction to disaster trauma.
- Describe the most common mental health disorders associated with disaster trauma.
- Establish a preliminary assessment for the most common mental health disorders.
- Employ an interview technique that is both effective and responsive to the needs of the patient.
- Discuss treatment options for these mental health disorders.
- Identify the role of cultural elements in addressing mental health problems.
- Utilize appropriate methods for interacting with culturally diverse populations in the context of a disaster response.
Pre-requisites/Learning Level
Effect of Disasters on Mental Health: Awareness Level
Competencies addressed
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals identified:
Domain 4: Cultural Competency Skills
- 4A3. Describes the ways diversity may influence policies, programs, services, and the health of a community
- 4A5. Addresses the diversity of individuals and populations when implementing policies, programs, and services that affect the health of a community
CEUs Offered
None
Cost
Free
Modality/format
Online Self-Pace
Length
1 hour
Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts
Technical requirements
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Speakers or headphones
Registration requirements
Register a free account
Creation and/or update
June 2022
Effect of Disasters on Mental Health for Children and Adolescents
This course covers the following topics:
- Risk Factors
- Psychological First Aid for Children and Adolescents
- What Parents Can Do to Help
- Common Reactions of Children and Adolescents to Traumatic Stress
- Pathological Reactions of Children and Adolescents to Traumatic Stress
- Treatment Options
Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to participate in a scenario-based activity, in which you will apply the knowledge you have attained.
Intended Audience
anyone who will come into professional contact with disaster victims who are children or adolescents, including DMAT, hospital workers, EMTs, primary care providers and public health workers
Learning Objectives:
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Recognize the risk factors involved for a child or adolescent developing mental health problems as a result of exposure to disaster
- Recognize symptoms of acute psychological distress in children or adolescents
- Administer ”psychological first aid” to children and adolescents to provide them with stabilization during and in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event
- Describe how 4 major components in the psycho-physiological response to trauma (somatic, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive) manifest themselves in pre-school children, older children, and adolescents
- Advise parents/caregivers what they do to help prevent their child or adolescent from developing mental health problems after a traumatic event
- Distinguish between a normal and pathological reaction to disaster trauma in children and adolescents
- Discuss treatment options for children and adolescents who develop mental health disorders
Pre-requisites/Learning Level
No pre-requisites
Competencies addressed
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals identified
Domain 4: Cultural Competency Skills
- 4A5. Addresses the diversity of individuals and populations when implementing policies, programs, and services that affect the health of a community
CEUs Offered
None
Cost
Free
Modality/format
Online Self-Pace
Length
1 hour
Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts
Technical requirements:
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Speakers or headphones
Registration requirements
Register a free account
Creation and/or update
April 2022
Responding to a Crisis: Managing Emotions and Stress Scenario
Course Overview
Course Goal
This course utilizes scenario-based learning to cover concepts of Psychological First Aid in responding to disasters. The learner makes decisions about how to respond to the emotional needs of disaster victims and volunteers.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for the public health workforce, as well as anyone involved in post-disaster recovery.
Length
The length of time for participants to take this course is estimated to be one hour.
Course Content & Navigation
The course is set up as an interactive scenario. There are 4 sections of the course that need to be completed. Users will be directed into a scenario and then asked to make decisions. When users make the correct decision, they will advance to a positive outcome. When users make an incorrect decision, they will face a negative outcome and receive the necessary training to make a better decision. They are then given another opportunity to make the right choice. Users must answer the question correctly in order to continue to the next section of the scenario.
Learning Objectives
After completion of the course, learners should be able to:
- Assess the psycho-physiological impact of trauma
- Describe mental health interventions used during and in the immediate aftermath of a disaster in order to provide psychological stabilization
- Determine who may benefit from mental health intervention
- Administer mental health interventions to disaster victims as appropriate
- Apply the screening and intervention concepts that occur in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
Certificate of Completion
A certificate of completion is awarded on successful completion of this course. In order to successfully complete this course, you MUST score 70% or higher on the Posttest.
If you do not receive 70% on the posttest, you may review the material and re-take it. The posttest will become available for a re-take 2 days after your first attempt.
Modality/Format
Online Self-Pace
Pre-requisites/Learning Level
No pre-requisites
Public Health Preparedness Capabilities
Capability 2: Community Recovery
- Function 1: Identify and monitor public health, medical, mental/behavioral health system recovery needs.
- Function 2: Coordinate community public health, medical, mental/behavioral health system recovery operations.
PERLC Competencies
Domain I: Model Leadership
1.2 Manage behaviors associated with emotional responses in self and others.
- Distinguish between the possible signs of personal stress, burn-out and vicarious trauma.
- Applies techniques for maintaining awareness of possible signs of personal stress, burn-out, and vicarious trauma.
- Applies intervention techniques to support emotional health needs.
- Describe the importance of mitigating acute distress and fostering adaptive functioning and coping.
- Demonstrate personal behavioral techniques for mitigating acute distress and fostering adaptive functioning and coping.
- Discuss the elements of self-care principles and practices.
- Use self-care principles and practices to mitigate potential adverse effects.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop a helping relationship in support of the emotional health of others.
- Demonstrate principles of active listening, express empathy and rapport.
- Behave in a positive non-judgmental and respectful manner.
- Evaluate the emotional support needs of others.
- Assess individuals requiring immediate care from those who need no care or delayed care.
- Distinguish between well-functioning, distress and dysfunctional emotional responses.
- Describe mechanisms of liaison and advocacy and knowledge of referral resources.
- Distinguish between the types of referrals needed for intensive care.
- Express confidence in ability to make referrals, and serves as a liaison and advocate.
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals identified:
Domain 2: Policy Development and Program Planning Skills
T1: 2.2.5. Connects individuals to programs and services (e.g., helping individuals navigate systems, linking individuals to healthcare or social services)
Technical Requirements
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Speaker/Earphones
Registration Requirements
Register a free account
Course Redesign and Redevelopment (May 2023)
Subject Matter Experts
- Suzanne Hawley, PhD
Instructional Designers & Developers
- Alyssa Azhari
Item Writer
- Roger Hileman
Audio/Video production
- Melissa Richlen
Narrator
- Suzanne Hawley, PhD
LMS Coordinator
- Tim Beachy
Course Creation and/or Update
- May, 2023
Need Assistance?
If you need technical help, please Contact Us
Acknowledgments
The following organizations collaborated on the development of this course: Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH); University of Iowa College of Public Health, Institute for Public Health Practice (IPHP).
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Effect of Disasters on Mental Health: Awareness Level
Course Summary
There are three sections in this course:
- Section 1: Disaster, Trauma and Proximity to the Event
- Section 2: Psycho-Physiology of Trauma and Fear
- Section 3: Tools for Understanding
There are review questions at the end of modules. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these modules. In addition, some modules contain practice exercises to help you better understand the material.
Intended Audience
anyone who will come into professional contact with disaster victims, including DMAT, hospital workers, EMTs, primary care providers and public health workers
Learning Objectives:
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
- Define disaster
- Define trauma
- Describe how proximity to the event affects the potential for traumatic response
- Describe the triune brain and how each part of it functions during a traumatic event
- Describe automatic response to trauma: flight or fight, freeze, social engagement
- Describe 4 major components in the psycho-physiological response to trauma: somatic, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive
- Describe the epidemiological triangle in relation to the effect of disasters on mental health
- Describe how various elements of the “agent”, “host” and “environment” of a disaster impacts its effect on the mental health of its victims
- Analyze a disaster and its effect on victims using the epidemiological triangle
- Describe the use of the Haddon Matrix in prevention, mitigation and intervention of disasters and their effect on mental health
Pre-requisites/Learning Level
No pre-requisites
Competencies addressed
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals identified
Domain 4: Cultural Competence Skills
- 4A3. Describe the ways diversity may influence policies, programs, services, and health of a community
- 4A5. Addresses the diversity of individuals and populations when implementing policies, programs, and services that affect the health of a community
CEUs Offered
None
Cost
Free
Modality/format
Online Self-Pace
Length
1 hour
Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts
Technical requirements:
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Flash Player
- Speakers
Registration requirements
Register a free account
Creation and/or update
January 2022
Effect of Disasters on Mental Health for Children and Adolescents
This course covers the following topics:
- Risk Factors
- Psychological First Aid for Children and Adolescents
- What Parents Can Do to Help
- Common Reactions of Children and Adolescents to Traumatic Stress
- Pathological Reactions of Children and Adolescents to Traumatic Stress
- Treatment Options
Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to participate in a scenario-based activity, in which you will apply the knowledge you have attained.
Intended Audience
anyone who will come into professional contact with disaster victims who are children or adolescents, including DMAT, hospital workers, EMTs, primary care providers and public health workers
Learning Objectives:
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Recognizethe risk factors involved for a child or adolescent developing mental health problems as a result of exposure to disaster
- Recognizesymptoms of acute psychological distress in children or adolescents
- Administer”psychological first aid” to children and adolescents to provide them with stabilization during and in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event
- Describehow 4 major components in the psycho-physiological response to trauma (somatic, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive) manifest themselves in pre-school children, older children, and adolescents
- Adviseparents/caregivers what they do to help prevent their child or adolescent from developing mental health problems after a traumatic event
- Distinguishbetween a normal and pathological reaction to disaster trauma in children and adolescents
- Discusstreatment options for children and adolescents who develop mental health disorders
Pre-requisites/Learning Level
No pre-requisites
Competencies addressed
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals identified
Domain 4: Cultural Competency Skills
- 4A5. Addresses the diversity of individuals and populations when implementing policies, programs, and services that affect the health of a community
CEUs Offered
None
Cost
Free
Modality/format
Online Self-Pace
Length
1 hour
Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts
Technical requirements:
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Flash Player
- Speakers
Registration requirements
Register a free account
Creation and/or update
April 2020
Effect of Disasters on Mental Health: Awareness Level
Course Summary
There are three sections in this course:
- Section 1: Disaster, Trauma and Proximity to the Event
- Section 2: Psycho-Physiology of Trauma and Fear
- Section 3: Tools for Understanding
There are review questions at the end of modules. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these modules. In addition, some modules contain practice exercises to help you better understand the material.
Intended Audience
anyone who will come into professional contact with disaster victims, including DMAT, hospital workers, EMTs, primary care providers and public health workers
Learning Objectives:
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
- Define disaster
- Define trauma
- Describe how proximity to the event affects the potential for traumatic response
- Describe the triune brain and how each part of it functions during a traumatic event
- Describe automatic response to trauma: flight or fight, freeze, social engagement
- Describe 4 major components in the psycho-physiological response to trauma: somatic, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive
- Describe the epidemiological triangle in relation to the effect of disasters on mental health
- Describe how various elements of the “agent”, “host” and “environment” of a disaster impacts its effect on the mental health of its victims
- Analyze a disaster and its effect on victims using the epidemiological triangle
- Describe the use of the Haddon Matrix in prevention, mitigation and intervention of disasters and their effect on mental health
Pre-requisites/Learning Level
No pre-requisites
Competencies addressed
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals identified
Domain 4: Cultural Competence Skills
- 4A3. Describe the ways diversity may influence policies, programs, services, and health of a community
- 4A5. Addresses the diversity of individuals and populations when implementing policies, programs, and services that affect the health of a community
CEUs Offered
None
Cost
Free
Modality/format
Online Self-Pace
Length
1 hour
Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts
Technical requirements:
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Flash Player
- Speakers
Registration requirements
Register a free account
Creation and/or update
April 2020
Effect of Disasters on Mental Health: Technical Level
Course Summary
There are three modules in this course:
- Module 1: Assessment and Intervention in the Immediate Aftermath of a Disaster
- Module 2: Assessment and Intervention in the Weeks/Months after the Disaster
- Module 3: Cultural Awareness
There are review questions at the end of each module. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these modules. In addition, some modules contain practice exercises to help you better understand the material.
Intended Audience
Anyone who will come into professional contact with disaster victims, including DMAT, hospital workers, EMTs, primary care providers and public health workers
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you will be able to:
- Assess the psycho-physiological impact of trauma.
- Describe mental health interventions used during and in the immediate aftermath of a disaster in order to provide psychological stabilization.
- Determine who may benefit from mental health intervention.
- Administer mental health interventions to disaster victims as appropriate.
- Distinguish between a normal and pathological reaction to disaster trauma.
- Describe the most common mental health disorders associated with disaster trauma.
- Establish a preliminary assessment for the most common mental health disorders.
- Employ an interview technique that is both effective and responsive to the needs of the patient.
- Discuss treatment options for these mental health disorders.
- Identify the role of cultural elements in addressing mental health problems.
- Utilize appropriate methods for interacting with culturally diverse populations in the context of a disaster response.
Pre-requisites/Learning Level
Effect of Disasters on Mental Health: Awareness Level
Competencies addressed
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals identified:
Domain 4: Cultural Competency Skills
- 4A3. Describes the ways diversity may influence policies, programs, services, and the health of a community
- 4A5. Addresses the diversity of individuals and populations when implementing policies, programs, and services that affect the health of a community
CEUs Offered
None
Cost
Free
Modality/format
Online Self-Pace
Length
1 hour
Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts
Technical requirements
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Flash Player
- Speakers
Registration requirements
Register a free account
Creation and/or update
April 2020
Responding to a Crisis: Managing Emotions and Stress Scenario
This course utilizes scenario-based learning to cover concepts of Psychological First Aid in responding to disasters. The user makes decisions about how to respond to the emotional needs of disaster victims and volunteers. This course is intended for the public health workforce, as well as anyone involved in post-disaster recovery.
Intended Audience
public health workforce, as well as anyone involved in post-disaster recovery
Learning Objectives:
After completion of this course, the participant will be able to:
- Assess the psycho-physiological impact of trauma
- Describe mental health interventions used during and in the immediate aftermath of a disaster in order to provide psychological stabilization
- Determine who may benefit from mental health intervention
- Administer mental health interventions to disaster victims as appropriate
- Screening and intervention occur both during and in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, and in the months following the disaster. In this module, we will focus on the screening and intervention that occur in the immediate aftermath of the disaster
Pre-requisites/Learning Level
No pre-requisites
Competencies addressed
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals identified
Domain 5: Community Dimensions of Practice Skills
- 5A5. Collaborates with community partners to improve health in a community (e.g., participates in committees, shares data and information, connects people to resources)
CEUs Offered
None
Cost
Free
Modality/format
Online Self-Pace
Length
1 ½ hours
Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts
Technical requirements:
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Flash Player
- Speakers
Registration requirements
Register a free account
Creation and/or update
July 11, 2012
Disaster Mental Health
Goal, Course Content Part of the Public Health Emergency Training (PHET) Series, this training presents the basic principles and goals of disaster mental health and outlines the critical role of public health professionals in recognizing a range of reactions to traumatic events. Learning Objectives: - Describe why disaster mental health is important in emergency preparedness planning and response to public health threats - Distinguish between disaster mental health and traditional psychotherapy - Identify normal stress reactions to abnormal situations - Outline the basic principles and goals of disaster mental health - Identify individuals who are at greater risk for more serious psychological and emotional reactions to trauma - Describe the critical role you play in disaster mental health - Summarize the importance of building community partnerships Participants are eligible to receive up to .05 CEUs .5 contact hours for completion of training including pre-test, post test and evaluation.
Mental Health and Psychological Effects of a Disaster
Effect of Disasters on Mental Health: Awareness Level
Goal/ Intended Audience This course is intended for anyone who will come into professional contact with disaster victims, including DMAT, hospital workers, EMTs, primary care providers and public health workers. Course Content There are three modules in this course: Module 1: Disaster, Trauma and Proximity to the Event Module 2: Psycho-Physiology of Trauma and Fear Module 3: Tools for Understanding There are review questions at the end of modules. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these modules. In addition, some modules contain practice exercises to help you better understand the material.
Psychological First Aid
Effect of Disasters on Mental Health: Technical Level
Goal/ Intended Audience This course is intended for anyone who will come into professional contact with disaster victims, including DMAT, hospital workers, EMTs, primary care providers and public health workers. In addition to providing general knowledge, this course emphasizes two practical skills: administering psychological first aid to disaster victims in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, and screening disaster victims for common mental health disorders in the months that follow. Prerequisite Effect of Disasters on Mental Health: Awareness Level Course Content There are three modules in this course: Module 1: Assessment and Intervention in the Immediate Aftermath of a Disaster Module 2: Assessment and Intervention in the Weeks/Months after the Disaster Module 3: Cultural Awareness There are review questions at the end of each module. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these modules. In addition, some modules contain practice exercises to help you better understand the material.
Understanding Compassion Fatigue
Goals/ Intended Audience To help public health workers, and other professionals on the front lines of bioterrorism defense, combat the potential adverse psychological effects of performing their functional roles and professional responsibilities in bioterrorism preparedness, response and recovery. Course Goals: 1. To promote and protect the health and safety of bioterrorism front line responders by assuring that they are aware of the potentially damaging psychological effects of performing their functional roles in emergency preparedness and bioterrorism response and recovery; 2. To limit the psychological distress and negative health behaviors in bioterrorism front line responders by helping them to combat these occupational stressors through developing skills for compassion fatigue prevention and resiliency. 3. To sustain the capacity of those who must continue to perform their professional roles in bioterrorism response and recovery, following a terrorism event, for the purpose of promoting an effective public health response.
UIA - Grand Rounds - Reactions to Trauma: Consequences for Mental Health (Archive)
This presentation will discuss the short and long-term effects of traumatic events on mental health. We will examine reactions to trauma and how to support families and communities who have experienced devastating events. There will be a particular emphasis on the effects of terrorism on children and how developmental stage may influence stress responses.