title: A mental health training program for community members following a natural disaster.
abstract: This study reports data on a disaster mental health training program to enhance the capacity of lay people from disaster-affected communities, to provide assistance to others following a bushfire disaster. Local facilitators conducted training sessions which were actively promoted within communities. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous pre- and post-training survey to obtain data on the impact and quality of the training program. Responses from 462 (80%) of 577 people who attended 39 sessions showed substantial and significant increases in key competencies including confidence in their abilities to detect difficulties coping in others and to provide assistance. The quality of the program and materials were rated highly. The findings of the evaluation provide support for the program as a beneficial, acceptable and feasible community-level intervention following disaster.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health; East Melbourne, Victoria AUSTRALIA; Department of Psychiatry; University of Melbourne; Parkville, Victoria AUSTRALIA.
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health; East Melbourne, Victoria AUSTRALIA; Department of Psychiatry; University of Melbourne; Parkville, Victoria AUSTRALIA.
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varker
authors.affiliation: beyondblue: the national depression initiative.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.affiliation: beyondblue: the national depression initiative.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.affiliation: beyondblue: the national depression initiative.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry; University of Melbourne; Parkville, Victoria AUSTRALIA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Creamer
keywords: community program; disaster; mental health; recovery; training