The experience of a mental health team involved in the early phase of a disaster.
The reactions of a volunteer mental health team which convened in the aftermath of the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires are reported. A questionnaire designed to explore psychological and physical responses was completed by the 19 staff who made up the team. Using both open-ended and closed questions, the questionnaire tapped such areas as motivation, goals, expectations and observations, initial and later emotional and physical reactions, fantasies and evoked memories; an evaluation of the service and the experience was also included. Analysis of responses indicated that team members experienced considerable stress during their post-disaster work but also gained a great deal at both professional and personal levels. Sources of stress are discussed as are recommendations for their alleviation.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D004190:Disasters; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*