Lessons from the aftermath of Flight 232: Practical considerations for the mental health profession's response to air disasters.

Abstract

The fiery crash of a DC-10 at Sioux City, Iowa, on July 19, 1989, caused a crisis of major proportions, with attendant mental health needs. Various articles have described the need for psychological response teams in such crises. The present article provides practical guidelines for the preparation of a mental health disaster plan and for the coordination of a mental health team responding to a major air disaster. Such disasters can occur in any part of the country at any time. It is hoped that the suggestions in the present article will help teams that respond to future air disasters provide more rapid, effective, and efficient delivery of services to the survivors and their families, and the families of those who are killed.

Sinistres et intervenants

“…Tableau 18. Recommandations pour la planification des services en santé mentale lors de situations d'urgence (Jacobs et al, 1990). [194] Sinistres et intervenants.…”

“…Ce constat soutient par ailleurs la reconnaissance de la nécessité d'instaurer des mesures de prévention ou de soutien émotif suivant un désastre. En situation d'urgence, l'accent est généralement mis par les autorités et les organismes gestionnaires de la crise sur les besoins d'interventions chirurgicales ou de services médicaux d'urgence en fonction d'un système orienté vers le traitement des traumatismes physiques (Burkle, 1996 ;Jacobs et al, 1990). Dans la plupart des cas, les gestionnaires de plans d'urgence n'incluent pas, dans les victimes primaires, celles qui souffrent de traumatisme psychologique.…”

“…Une détection et une intervention hâtives limitaient en moyenne a douze semaines l'absence au travail, tandis qu'une intervention retardée correspondait à une moyenne de 46 semaines d'absence. Selon Jacobs et al (1990), la mise en commun de différentes ressources en santé mentale peut s'avérer appropriée dans les plans d'urgence afin d'éviter que certaines ressources ne soient pas utilisées en fonction de leurs compétences particulières, sous-utilisées ou tout simplement pas utilisées.…”

Traumatic stress, disaster psychology, and graduate education: Reflections on the special section and recommendations for professional psychology training.

“…However, their research and clinical interests were in disaster-related domains such as crisis intervention, suicide, anxiety, depression, and rural community psychology. They drew on the clinical program's community-based, diversity-focused, scientist-practitioner training model to adapt and apply their experiences and knowledge base to this air disaster (Jacobs et al, 1990). As a result of their efforts, the faculty and students who participated in this response-and by association, the clinical program-were awarded the APA's Inaugural Presidential Citation for Outstanding Community Service in 1991.…”

Disaster Mental Health and Positive Psychology–Considering the Context of Natural and Technological Disasters: An Introduction to the Special Issue

“…While human beings have always had to deal with the wide‐ranging and potentially devastating effects of disasters, it was not until the 1990s that the field of psychology really began to play a major role (see for example, Jacobs, , ; Jacobs, Quevillon, & Stricherz, ; Reyes, ). Clinical psychologists working in disaster mental health may find themselves working with disaster‐relief agencies, such as the American Red Cross or the Department of Health and Human Services, participating in the immediate response to a disaster event.…”