Hits: 69

A Guidebook for Clinicians and Administrators
By by Bruce H. Young, Julian D. Ford, Josef I. Ruzek, Matthew J. Friedman, and Fred D. Gusman (2000)
This guidebook is an introduction to the field of disaster mental health for clinicians and administrators. Practical guidelines and background information are provided to assist you and/or your organization.
(both in .html and .pdf) To top

Adolescents and the tsunami
UNICEF 2005, On 30 December 2004, four days after the tsunami struck, the Voices of Hope:oices of Youth website became a space where young people could build a support group for each other and voice opinions about the direction relief efforts should take. The discussion forum that resulted lasted for three months and became known as ‘Tsunami terror’, a name that was suggested by the young people themselves. To top

Advances in Disaster Mental Health and Psychological Support
American Red Cross (2006)
This book is divided into four sections. Section I presents the theoretical bases for mental health and psychosocial support activities following a major disaster. Section II provides the reader with six specific examples of how mental health and psychosocial needs of affected populations have been addressed in Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Iraq, the Philippines, Afghanistan, and Palestine. Section III moves from mental health and psychiatry into a community model of psychosocial support. These sections present a transition from psychiatry to psychosocial support in India and are followed by two case studies; one from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India, and the
other addressing the tsunami response during the acute to early reconstruction phases of the disaster cycle in the south and western provinces of Sri Lanka. Section IV proposes tools for monitoring and evaluation of community-based psychosocial support needs and interventions.
(191 pages, .pdf) To top

Afghanistan: The Risks of International Psychosocial Risk Management
WHO (2002)
The psychological state of conflict or
disaster-affected populations has become a prominent concern in international humanitarian policy. Reports often highlight refugees and internally displaced persons as ‘traumatised’, ‘psychologically scarred’ or ‘indelibly marked’ by their experiences. In complex emergencies mass post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is now expected, so psychosocial programmes are becoming standard features, and psychosocial work a core part of international humanitarian responses. However, there has been surprisingly little analysis of their assumptions or evaluation of their efficacy.
(12 pages, .pdf) To top

After the Cameras Have Gone - Children in Disasters: Summary
By Plan UK (2003)
An estimated 77 million children under 15, on average, had their lives severely disrupted by a natural disaster or an armed conflict, each year, between 1991 and 2000. Millions of children were made homeless, lost loved ones, received injuries, witnessed or experienced violence and suffered scarring psychological traumas.
(9 pages, .pdf) To top

After the Tsunami: Integrating Psychosocial Programming Within Humanitarian Response
The Psychosocial Working Group (2005)
The earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004 brought great devastation to innumerable communities bordering the Indian Ocean. As humanitarian efforts continue to support relief and,
increasingly, reconstruction work within these communities there is great awareness of the human dimensions of this disaster.
(2 pages, .pdf) To top

Building back better
UNICEF 2005. One year after the tsunami, UNICEF recounts its role in providing immediate relief and ongoing care to the thousands of families and children affected. Helping bring children back to school, providing immunization services, and assisting with registration, placement and reunification of the separated are but a few of the activities UNICEF undertook in the past 12 months. The report provides country-by-country breakdowns that include expenditure, plans and challenges, while highlighting children's stories and key partners in relief and recovery. To top

Caritas India - Tsunami Response
Caritas India (2006)
An own web site with a lot of material related to the tsunami disaster in 2004. To top

Center for Crisis Psychology (CCP)
Center for Crisis Psychology (CCP) is a Norwegian center specialized in the effects of traumas and losses on children and adults. The center has established close collaboration with a number of international resource centers and institutions, and this new internet service will provide information from the international activities of CCP and partners in different parts of the world. To top

Child Development And Post-traumatic Stress Disorder After Hurricane Exposure
By Alan M. Delamater, PhD, and E. Brooks Applegate, PhD (2000)
This study examined child development in relation to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after hurricane exposure. The study subjects were 175 3 to 5-year old minority children enrolled in Head Start programs. Children were evaluated 12 and 18 months after Hurricane Andrew struck south Florida. Mothers were interviewed concerning symptoms of PTSD and completed a questionnaire regarding their children’s development. Results indicated that 16.5% of exposed children met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD at 12 months, and 11.6% had PTSD at 18 months post-hurricane. Children who had PTSD at 12 months were more likely to be delayed in their development at 18 months, and those with PTSD at 18 months similarly were more likely to be delayed. These findings indicate that children with PTSD are at risk for delays in their overall development. To top

Children and Disaster; Teaching Recovery Techniques
Patrick Smith, Atle Dyregrov, William Yule, 2002. This manual and accompanying workbook will help you to provide assistance for large numbers of children as quickly as possible. It is designed to help you teach children in a step by step practical way to develop some skills and techniques which are helpful in coping with the psychological effects of disastrous events. It should be clear that this is not a treatment manual, but is designed to prevent the need for later treatment: children who have learned and practiced the techniques contained here will be less likely to need specialist treatment services in the future(pdf. 84 pages). To top

Collective trauma in northern Sri Lanka: a qualitative psychosocial-ecological study
Complex situations that follow war and natural disasters have a psychosocial impact on not only the individual but also on the family, community and society. Just as the mental health effects on the individual psyche can result in non pathological distress as well as a variety of psychiatric disorders; massive and widespread trauma and loss can impact on family and social processes causing changes at the family, community and societal levels. To top

Community-based psychological support - a training manual
By The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2003) Lise Flindt Simonsen, Gilbert Reyes
This training manual builds on the experience of psychological support gathered in many different critical events over the last decade by National Societies, and covers more recently developed technical areas as well as recommended methodologies. To top

Conflict, Disaster, Homicide - Mental health reform in post-conflict areas: a policy analysis based on experiences in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Albert K. De Vries1, Niek S. Klazinga2 (2005)
This policy analysis provides insight into the ongoing process of mental health reform and the difficulty of sustaining such reform in post-conflict areas. It is based on experiences in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia.
(6 pages pdf) To top

Coping With Crisis - No. 1 March 2006
The Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2006) To top

Coping With Crisis - No. 1 March 2007
Federation Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2007) To top

Coping With Crisis - No. 2 August 2006
Federation Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2006) To top

Coping With Crisis - No. 2 June 2005
The Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2005)
The newsletter primarily aims at informing national societies and other interested parties on RC/RC psychosocial support related activities, be it particular projects, assessments or evaluations. It is also a tool to inform each other about key events that need to be highlighted and/or announced.
(12 pages, .pdf) To top

Coping With Disasters - a Guidebook to Psychosocial Intervention
By John H. Ehrenreich (2001)
This manual is a guide to psychosocial interventions to help people cope with the emotional effects of disasters.
(104 pages, .pdf) To top

Coping with Crisis - No. 3 October 2005
The Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2005)
The newsletter primarily aims at informing national societies and other interested parties on RC/RC psychosocial support related activities, be it particular projects, assessments or evaluations. It is also a tool to inform each other about key events that need to be highlighted and/or announced.
(12 pages, .pdf) To top

David V. Baldwins Trauma Information Page
These Trauma Pages focus primarily on emotional trauma and traumatic stress, including PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and dissociation, whether following individual traumatic experience(s) or a large-scale disaster. To top

Development of the rapid assessment tool for mental health and psychosocial support in the philippine health emergency setting
Walter V Laurel WHO 2009
This covers a wide-range of interventions and services and should be preceded by careful assessment and planning within the local context, which would include the local perceptions of distress and illness, coping mechanisms, and the mapping of the community’s capacity to cope. In the Philippines, the National Disaster Coordinating Council MHPSS Sub-committee saw a need to develop a Rapid Assessment Tool for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (MHPSS-RAT) which will provide immediate assessment of the
vulnerable population and relevant resources in the first twenty-four hours of onset in mass emergencies and disasters (pdf. 8 pages). To top

Disaster Mental Health Institute (DMHI)
The DMHI was founded in 1993, and was designated a South Dakota Board of Regents Center of Excellence in 1997. The mission of the DMHI is the promotion, development, and application of both practice and research in disaster mental health. To top

Disaster Mental Health Response Handbook
Centre for Mental Health, NSW Health NSW Institute of Psychiatry, Australia (2000)
An educational resource for mental health professionals involved in disaster management.
(180 pages, .pdf) To top

Disaster Mental Health Services: A Guidebook for Clinicians and Administrators
National Center for PTSD (1998)
Each day disasters occur, and each year millions of people are affected. Whether natural or human-made, the extreme and overwhelming forces of disaster can have far-reaching effects on individual, local community, and national stability.
(158 pages, .html and .pdf) To top

Disaster Mental Health Services: An Overview. (Instructor`s Manual)
By the American Red Cross(2002)
The purpose of this course is to help participants understand the Disaster Mental Health Services (DMHS) function within the American Red Cross Disaster Services Program. Participants will earn how Disaster Mental Health Services support disaster relief workers and people affected by disasters.
(73 pages, .pdf) To top

Disaster Psychosocial Response - Handbook for community counsellor trainers
Academy for Disaster Management Education, Planning, & Training, India (2005)
More than 100,000 people have been unsettled in the Tsunami hit Cuddalore district in Tamilnadu, India. The Academy for Disaster Management Education, Planning & Training (ADEPT) coordinated with a group of major charitable hospitals from all over the country and mmobilized medical relief on a war footing. It was estimated that less than 10% of the Tsunami affected population had suffered physical injury or illness. Almost EVERYONE had suffered severe psychological and emotional trauma.
(95 pages, .pdf) To top

Disaster Psycosocial Response - Handbook for community counsellor trainers
Gauthamadas, U
Academy for Disaster Management Education, Planning and Training, India (2005)
More than 100,000 people have been unsettled in the Tsunami hit Cuddalore district in Tamilnadu, India. The Academy for Disaster Management Education, Planning & Training (ADEPT) coordinated with a group of major charitable hospitals from all over the country and mobilized medical relief on a war footing. It was estimated that less than 10% of the Tsunami affected population had suffered physical injury or illness. Almost EVERYONE had suffered severe psychological and emotional trauma.
(95 pages, .pdf) To top

Emergency mental health and psycho-social support
The Johns Hopkins and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Public health guide for emergencies Chapter 5
This chapter is as a guide for setting up mental health and psychosocial programmes for vulnerable populations in developing countries who are or have been exposed to crisis events. It describes the psychological problems of people exposed to violence, disaster or critical incidents and provides guidelines for planning emergency mental health programs (pdf, 22 pages). To top

Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters
By Deborah J. DeWolfe, Ph.D., M.S.P.H. (2000)
This Field Manual is intended for mental health workers and other human service providers who assist survivors following a disaster. This pocket reference provides the basics of disaster mental health, with numerous specific and practical suggestions for workers.
(40 pages, .pdf) To top

Guidelines for the Implementation of a Psychological Support Programme in Emergencies
By IFRC (2002)
These guidelines are based on the International Federation’s publication, Psychological Support: best practices from Red Cross and Red Crescent programmes (2001), and other existing literature. They are intended as suggestions only and should be considered a source of inspiration rather than a standard checklist applicable for all emergency situations.
(8 pages, .pdf) To top

Helping Children After a Disaster
Te American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1990)
A catastrophe such as an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, fire or flood is frightening to children and adults alike. It is important to acknowledge the frightening parts of the disaster when talking with a child about it. Falsely minimizing the danger will not end a child` concerns. Several factors affect a child` response to disaster. To top

Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
National Institute of Mental Health, USA (2001)
The purpose of this fact sheet is to tell what is known about the impact of violence and disasters on children and adolescents and suggest steps to minimize long-term emotional harm. To top

IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support
In 1991 the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched the Psychological Support Programme (PSP) as a crosscutting programme under the Health & Care Division. To assist the IFRC with the implementation of the programme, the Danish Red Cross and IFRC established the Reference Centre for Psychological Support as a centre of excellence in 1993 To top

Iasc Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
IASC 2008
These guidelines reflect the insights of practitioners from different geographic regions, disciplines and sectors, and reflect an emerging consensus on good practice among practitioners. The core idea behind them is that, in the early phase of an
emergency, social supports are essential to protect and support mental health and psychosocial well-being. In addition, the guidelines recommend selected psychological and psychiatric interventions for specific problems. To top

Implementation Guidelines for Psycho-Social Support in Disasters
Turkish Red Crescent, 2008
This guideline aim to provide guidance to field relief workers and volunteers. Being a reference work prepared based on the experiences and assessments of our specialists, these guidelines draw the general framework of psyscho-social support and provide information on the psycho-social support practices, human resources, volunteers and vulnerable
groups (pdf 109). To top

Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering From Natural Disasters
APA Help Center (2005)
When a natural disaster affects a community, the resulting trauma can reverberate even with those not directly affected by the disaster.
Disasters of this type can be sudden and overwhelming. In addition to the often catastrophic toll on lives and property, a disaster like a tsunami(tidal wave), hurricane or fire can have an impact on those who have lost loved ones and even those who feel more vulnerable as a result of learning about the disaster. To top

Managing stress in humanitarian workers
Antares Foundation (2005)
Humanitarian relief and rehabilitation agencies have to operate in a continuing changing context of increasing complexity. Often the work of their staff in the field is seriously hampered by deteriorating security, decreasing respect for their work and life (relief workers are sometimes targeted), and lack of a functioning government and authority. Due to these circumstances the humanitarian agencies are forced to work under increasing tension and discontinuity, resulting in pressure on their staff and a diminishing quality of work.
(15 pages, .pdf) To top

Mental Health Problems Among Adults in Tsunami-Affected Areas in Southern Thailand
Frits van Griensven et al. 2006
Among survivors of the tsunami in southern Thailand, elevated rates of symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression were reported 8 weeks after the disaster, with higher rates for anxiety and depression than PTSD symptoms. Nine months after the disaster, the rates of those reporting these symptoms decreased but were still elevated. This information is important for directing, strengthening, and evaluating post tsunami mental health needs and interventions (13 pages). To top

Mental Health in Emergencies
WHO (2003)
This document summarises the present position of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence on assisting populations exposed to extreme stressors, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, disaster survivors and terrorism-, war- or genocide-exposed populations.
(8 pages, .pdf) To top

Mental and social health during and after acute emergencies: emerging consensus?
WHO (2005)
This article from the Bulletin of the World Health Organization acknowledges that there is no agreement on the public health value of the post-traumatic stress disorder concept, or the appropriateness of vertical (separate) trauma-focused services during and after acute emergencies. It also highlights the separation of psychosocial care (focusing on non-medical intervention) from the mental health care field. It suggests that this has actually drawn practitioners skilled in non-biological interventions away from formal mental health services.
(71 pages, .pdf) To top

Mental health and psychosocial care for children affected by natural disasters
WHO (2005)
This document contains information for humanitarian aid workers, health professionals, teachers, and parents to support them in their efforts to provide sensitive and appropriate care for children affected by natural disasters. An integrated, community-focused approach is adopted based on the principles and values of children`s rights, child development, sensitivity to cultural differences, and effective practice based on scientific literature.
(16 pages, .pdf) To top

New Guidelines To Improve Psychological and Social Assistance in Emergencies
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) (2007)
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings clearly state that protecting and promoting mental health and psychosocial well-being is the responsibility of all humanitarian agencies and workers. Until now, many people involved in emergency response have viewed mental health and psychosocial well-being as the sole responsibility of psychiatrists and psychologists. To top

Participation by crisis-affected populations in humanitarian action
Groupe Urgence Réhabilitation Développement (URD) 2003. Humanitarian agencies have long believed that increased consultation and participation of people affected by crises should improve accountability
and the quality of humanitarian assistance. And more so, participation should acknowledge the right of affected populations to self-determination. This handbook is ultimately intended to be used by international humanitarian personnel as well as staff working for national and local organisations (pdf. 352 pages). To top

Phases of Traumatic Stress Reactions in a Disaster
By National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (2001)
The thousands of Americans who directly experienced the terror attacks on New York and Washington, and the millions who saw the resulting death and destruction on television, may encounter behavioral and emotional re-adjustment problems. Many post-traumatic stress symptoms are normal responses to an overwhelming stressor which may change our assumptions and create distress, but will reside in intensity with time. Experts agree that the amount of time it takes people to recover, depends both on what happened to them and on what meaning they gave to those events. To top

Protecting Persons Affected By Natural Disasters
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) (2006)
Floods, earthquakes and storms have routinely displaced tens of thousands around the world. Over the past few years, the international community’s response to these catastrophes has become ever swifter and more sophisticated. Until very recently, however, and in the rush to deliver life-saving aid, little attention was paid to the rights of these displaced people.
(36 pages, .pdf) To top

Psycho-social Support in Situations of Mass Emergency
By Ministry of Public Health, Belgium (2001)
This document offers decision-makers a methodological guide and a coherent model for psychological and social support in situations of mass emergency. Recommendations are the result of a series of exchanges of ideas and discussions between professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, coming from all over Europe. They include professionals with a psychological or social work training, public health physicians, medical emergency services staff, rescuers, academic experts, independent consultants, volunteers, local and central government civil servants.
(57 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychological First Aid Manual (PFA)
The Terrorism Disaster Branch of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD (2006)
PFA is an evidence-informed modular approach for assisting people in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism: to reduce initial distress, and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning. It is for use by mental health specialists including first responders, incident command systems, primary and emergency health care providers, school crisis response teams, faith-based organizations, disaster relief organizations, Community Emergency Response Teams, Medical Reserve Corps, and the Citizens Corps in diverse settings. To top

Psychological Impact of the Tsunami Across the Indian Rim
National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (2005)
The massively destructive tsunami that struck across the Indian Rim caused extensive loss of life and injury as well as devastation to property and community resources. The combination of life-threatening personal experiences, loss of loved ones and property, pervasive post-disaster adversities, and enormous economic impact on families and entire nations pose an extreme psychological challenge to the recovery of children and families in the affected areas. This brief information sheet provides an overview of expected psychological and physical responses among survivors.
(4 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychological Problems Among Refugees
Armenian Mental Health Foundation
Rsearch and experience shows that the priority problems for refugees are related to psychological trauma. The majority of refugee population in Armenia still suffers from chronic post traumatic stress disorder. To top

Psychological Services in Disasters
Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2000)
The Guidelines have been developed to offer service providers, managers and practitioners with insights, principles and strategies in key facets of assessment and delivery of psychological services in the disaster context. Their aims are to facilitate recovery, ensure ethical practice, and to protect victims and support workers in their respective roles.
(50 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychological intervention in major emergencies: an Asia-Pacific perspective
Tim H. Williams, Stuart C. Carr, & Neville M. Blampied, 2007.
What might constitute good practices for psychological intervention in any major or complex emergencies that can be anticipated occurring in the South-West Pacific, Australasia and southern South East Asia region. We do not believe there can be a singular ‘best practice’ that can be prescribed for such events, rather that through discussion broad guidelines can be developed to inform decision makers about what would constitute probable good practices when a major emergency occurs (10 pages). To top

Psychosocial Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster
By the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2005)
People in these areas may be experiencing many different emotional and physical responses at this time. Some of these responses include confusion, fear, hopelessness, sleeplessness, crying, difficulty in eating, headaches, body aches, anxiety, and anger.
(1 page, .pdf) To top

Psychosocial Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster - What You Can Do to Support Children in Disaster Areas
By the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2005)
For children, being able to trust at least one adult who can take care of them can pull them through stressful times. Therefore, helping children to maintain relationships with a family member or known person is very important.
(3 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychosocial Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster - Why People May Be Experiencing Emotional and Mental Distress
By the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2005)
Psychosocial interventions should not interfere with the organisation of food, shelter, clothing, public health services and the control of communicable diseases in the areas affected by the tsunami.
(3 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychosocial Care and Protection of Tsunami Affected Children
Inter-Agency working group on separated and unaccompanied children (2004)
Exposure to natural disasters has a devastating impact on the psychological and social well-being of children, adolescents and adults. It is now widely accepted that early psychosocial interventions that help to mitigate the effect of trauma, alleviating psychological distress, and strengthen resiliency must be an integral part of humanitarian assistance.
(72 pages, .doc) To top

Psychosocial Effects of Complex Emergencies
American Red Cross (1999)
The psychosocial health of populations that have experienced complex emergencies has become an important public health problem. The effects of violence and displacement on human health and the subsequent need for psychosocial services has attracted greatly increased attention since the experiences of populations in the Great Lakes Regions of Africa, and Eastern Europe. As the field of psychosocial health during and after complex emergencies has expanded, different and at times opposed approaches to program design an implementation have developed. These have included one-on-one psychodynamically oriented programs, group-based programs and interventions focusing on community reconstruction.
(28 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychosocial support to learners
International institute for educational planning UNESCO 2006.
To provide educational, psychological and social opportuneties which support the well-being of children affected by the trauma of conflict or natural disaster (pdf. 16 pages). To top

Rapid Assessments of Mental Health Needs After Disasters
Derrick Silove and Richard Bryant, 2006.
Screening for PTSD among survivors of disasters in developing countries, especially in acute situations, has faced a number of common criticisms; psychological trauma is a western concept that may be unfamiliar to other cultures. PTSD has limited diagnostic validity because culturally diverse communities do not have equivalent terms for the constellation or for the individual symptom domains of the disorder (4 pages). To top

Reactions and Guidelines for Children Following Trauma/Disaster
Compiled by Robin H. Gurwitch, Ph.D., Jane F. Silovsky, Ph.D., Shelli Schultz, Ph.D., Michelle Kees, Ph.D., & Sarah Burlingame, B.A. Department of Pediatrics University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (2003)
What to Expect After Trauma: Possible Reactions in Elementary School Students. To top

Reactions and Guidelines for Children Following Trauma/Disaster
American Psychological Association (2005)
What to Expect After Trauma:
Possible reactions in elementary school, middle school and high school students and teachers
Guidelines for teachers. To top

Regional Emergency Psychosocial Support Network
The Regional Emergency Psychosocial Support Network was borned out of the desire of emergency psychosocial caregivers in the South East Asia and the Pacific Region to facilitate the process of building, developing and strengthening the capacities of organizations in the region for providing psychosocial response in emergency situations. To top

Stress Management in Disasters
By Cyralene P. Bryce, Pan American Health Organization (2001)
A workbook which is a part of a stress management program designed to prevent and to mitigate the psychological dysfunction which exposure to traumatic situations like disasters may cause in emergency response personnel.
(138 pages, .pdf) To top

The Centre for Humanitarian Psychology
The Centre for Humanitarian Psychology (CHP) is an international organisation whose aim is to provide psychological support to humanitarian workers in the field. We work through a network of professionals who are both psychologists and familiar with humanitarian work, trainers, partners and volunteers, in Europe and in the field.
(also in French and Spanish) To top

The Community Stress Prevention Center
The Community Stress Prevention Centre (CSPC)in Israel was founded in Kiryat Shmona in 1981 with the aim of giving support to the population of the northern border (children, adults, education system, municipality, welfare, health and psychological services). To top

The Disaster Context: Guidelines for Psychological Services Practice
ReliefWeb (2005)
The need for guidelines for psychological services practice is evidenced by the different context in which psychological services need to be delivered to disaster affected persons. In the disaster context, psychological services are delivered within a community structure which is typically disrupted whereas these services are normally delivered within a functioning social structure in an orderly patterned existence. Where formal intervention is required it is usually delivered in a clinical, office based setting. Disaster generates varying degrees of chaos and renders many everyday systems and coping mechanisms dysfunctional or impotent. Service delivery therefore has to be flexible, mobile and creative.
(69 pages, .pdf) To top

Tokyo Guidelines for Trauma and Reconstruction
By Richard F. Mollica, MD, MAR and Yasushi Kikuchi, EdD (2001)
Assistance in "complex humanitarian emergencies" has remained largely unchanged or unchallenged since the end of World War II. One dilemma for international policy makers is that they do not have a scientific methodology for assessing the cultural, political, and social meanings of trauma in the lives of civilian populations and how these traumatic experiences alter the everyday lives of the affected individuals. To top

Tsunami: Public Health Issues
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005)
Tsunamis such as those that recently hit South Asia can have serious public health consequences. This page provides information on those public health issues. To top

Working with Children in Unstable Situations - A Guiding Manual for Psycho-social Interventions
Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford and UNICEF (2002)
The manual ‘Working with Children in Unstable Settings’ aims to guide UNICEF staff and UNICEF partners in how best to respond to the psychosocial needs of children in unstable situations. It aims to introduce humanitarian workers to psychosocial principles and UNICEF’s position on these principles. It provides a number of examples from UNICEF field work of how these principles have been turned into concrete interventions.
(82 pages, .pdf) To top