Handling the emotional response to disaster: the case for American Red Cross/community mental health collaboration.
This paper presents the theory, rationale, and a working model for integrating professional resources at the time of a disaster. Red Cross and community mental health agencies have worked for too long in parallel. A collaborative approach to meeting the emotional needs of disaster victims makes optimal use of indigenous resources; provides skill and knowledge normally lacking in each agency alone; and helps provide, through early intervention, a preventive factor to thwart long term community distress. Options for maintenance of readiness, local or regional adaptation and piloting are also discussed.
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D012011:Red Cross / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012066:Relief Work