Suchergebnisse

In the wake of 9/11, the world is all too aware of crises but largely underprepared for the psychological repercussions of traumatic events on victims and recovery staff. Salli Saari examines in detail the psychological effect traumatic events can have on an individual, taking the reader step-by-step through each stage of the process of understanding and recovery. She also discusses the role of social support, the media and work in addressing trauma, and what methods can be adopted to help victims cope after a traumatic incident. Based on work within the Finnish organized crisis care network

This study explores short- and long-term traumatic stress and the related risk factors among peripheral victims of the M/S Estonia disaster. The participants, characterized as fourth- and sixth-level victims, were 135 crew members (50 males and 85 females) of one of the Finnish ferries that took part in the rescue operation. The participants retrospectively filled in a wide-ranging questionnaire including items for 44 stress symptoms 1 week, 1 month, and 8 months after the disaster. A factor analysis produced three orthogonal symptom types: general traumatic stress symptoms, fear, and somatic symptoms. In addition, behavioural changes, changes in world view, and the impact of several risk factors (e.g., past traumas, avoidance behavior, appraisal of symptoms, social support) were analyzed. The results indicated that fourth- and sixth-level disaster victims suffer from traumatic stress at least as much as third-level victims (professional helpers), that women experience more psychological problems than men, and that different symptom types progress in different ways and stem from different risk factors.

In response to increasing concern about the effects of crises, disaster, trauma and, more recently, terrorism, EFPA established first a working party and then a Standing Committee to advise on the part psychology can play in preparing for emergencies and responding to them. The Committee has drawn together evidence and views from across Europe and the wider international scene. It has worked closely with the European Commission and has embarked on further training for members from recently acceded countries. It has recommended better ways of liaising across countries so that in the event of cross-border incidents, more efficient and effective responses can be assured. In turn this has implications for the training of psychologists and other professionals involved in emergency planning and response. Currently, there is a move to develop quality standards for such training.