Disasters:  Mental Health Interventions

By
JOHN D. WEAVER


    Disasters, whether natural or human-made, can happen anywhere at any time.  In the wake of these disasters, psychological devastation often remains long after the physical wounds have healed.  Disaster mental health is a growing field of practice designed to help the victims, and the helpers who rush to their aid, learn to cope effectively with the extreme stresses they will face in the aftermath of a disaster.  This book provides excellent disaster crisis intervention information and applications which can be equally well applied to crisis intervention and management in other settings such as family and individual therapy

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REVIEWS

"Few mental health professionals, either through our academic training or professional experience are well prepared to serve people who have experienced extraordinary life events such as disasters.  This book is a valuable resource to the professional on the road to better understanding and serving people who have survived disaster."
    *Brian W. Flynn, EdD, Chief, Emergency Services and Disaster Relief Branch, Center for Mental Health Services

"Well-organized and helpful to a broad spectrum of readers."
    *Calvin J. Frederick, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UCLA

"...provides a scholarly yet simultaneously enjoyable review of the 'state of the art' in disaster mental health interventions.  He provides a thorough study of the relevant literature along with practical and pragmatic suggestions for effectively assisting disaster survivors with their emotional journey to recovery.  [The author] is down to earth, warm, and human in his examples, anecdotes, and self-revelations.  His knowledge of the field is extensive, and his passion for the work is infectious.  This book is a 'must' for all who work in the field of disaster mental health."
     *Diane Myers, RN, MSN, Disaster Mental Health Consultant, Monterey, CA

"Mr. Weaver has brought together an excellent combination of disaster crisis intervention information and application.  I plan to use it in my training classes in crisis intervention and as a reference for my work in disaster mental health.  Ease of reading and concreteness make this volume valuable to the experienced professional as well as the novice."
     *Robert L. Dingman, EdD, Professor, Counseling and Rehabilitation Department, Marshall University, Huntington, WV

"...provides a practical, detailed blueprint for the individual practitioner or team organizer interested in providing disaster mental health services.  Drawing from his extensive and a wealth of research, Mr. Weaver makes an enormous contribution toward preparing and empowering social workers and other professionals in taking active and appropriate roles in disaster preparedness and response.  This book will be used as the foundation for organizing and training social workers in Hawaii as part of a state-wide disaster response system."
     *Ken Lee, ACSW, DCSW, Social Work Representative, Hawaii State VOAD Co-Organizer, Disaster Response Team Hawaii Chapter NASW