Book contents
- Lessons Learned in Disaster Mental Health: The Earthquake in Armenia and Beyond
- Frontispiece
- Lessons Learned in Disaster Mental Health: The Earthquake in Armenia and Beyond
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Dedication
- Preface
- Contributors
- Chapter 1 The 1988 Spitak Earthquake in Armenia and the Implementation of the Psychiatric Outreach Program
- Chapter 2 Diaspora Therapists Working in the Earthquake Zone
- Chapter 3 Treatment Outcome among Early Adolescents Two Decades Post-Earthquake
- Chapter 4 Course and Predictors of PTSD and Depression among Not Treated Children and Adolescents over Two Decades
- Chapter 5 Conscience, Moral Injury, and Psychopathology
- Chapter 6 Natural Disasters and Relocation
- Chapter 7 Long-Term Course of PTSD and Depression Among Adults, Mediating and Moderating Factors in Recovery, and Current Trends for Treatment
- Chapter 8 How the Spitak Earthquake Contributed to our Understanding of the Genetics of PTSD and Associated Disorders
- Chapter 9 Epidemiology of Disasters and the Spitak Earthquake
- Chapter 10 Traumatic Stress Conceptual Framework
- Chapter 11 Memoirs of the Spitak Earthquake
- Chapter 12 Lessons Learned from the Spitak Earthquake and Other Catastrophic Disasters
- Index
- Plate Section (PDF Only)
Chapter 2 - Diaspora Therapists Working in the Earthquake Zone
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 May 2022
- Lessons Learned in Disaster Mental Health: The Earthquake in Armenia and Beyond
- Frontispiece
- Lessons Learned in Disaster Mental Health: The Earthquake in Armenia and Beyond
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Dedication
- Preface
- Contributors
- Chapter 1 The 1988 Spitak Earthquake in Armenia and the Implementation of the Psychiatric Outreach Program
- Chapter 2 Diaspora Therapists Working in the Earthquake Zone
- Chapter 3 Treatment Outcome among Early Adolescents Two Decades Post-Earthquake
- Chapter 4 Course and Predictors of PTSD and Depression among Not Treated Children and Adolescents over Two Decades
- Chapter 5 Conscience, Moral Injury, and Psychopathology
- Chapter 6 Natural Disasters and Relocation
- Chapter 7 Long-Term Course of PTSD and Depression Among Adults, Mediating and Moderating Factors in Recovery, and Current Trends for Treatment
- Chapter 8 How the Spitak Earthquake Contributed to our Understanding of the Genetics of PTSD and Associated Disorders
- Chapter 9 Epidemiology of Disasters and the Spitak Earthquake
- Chapter 10 Traumatic Stress Conceptual Framework
- Chapter 11 Memoirs of the Spitak Earthquake
- Chapter 12 Lessons Learned from the Spitak Earthquake and Other Catastrophic Disasters
- Index
- Plate Section (PDF Only)
Summary
During the first six months after the earthquake, the diaspora Psychiatric Outreach Program (POP) therapists treated children and adolescents in schools and adults in tents, hospitals, factories, and mobile clinics. Successful implementation of the program depended on careful recruitment and preparation of the therapists and establishing strong working relationships with local partners. Therapists started their rotations in the earthquake zone by first meeting with Health and Education Ministry personnel, then school principals to get their approval to work with teachers and students. Therapists addressed the psychological needs of the principals and teachers before and during the time they worked with the students. Trauma-grief-focused group therapy was provided to students. Those who had severe symptoms were seen individually after the group meetings. Most therapists experienced mild anxiety and depressive symptoms during their tenure. Few were vicariously traumatized and were unable to continue working. The relief work had a positive impact on the professional lives of many who later excelled as educators and therapists. Because of the ongoing shortage of local therapists, a three-year teaching/training program was initiated by POP therapists to prepare qualified local psychotherapists. Graduates who were licensed by the Ministry of Health worked alongside the diaspora therapists in the schools and clinics. The chapter describes lessons learned from our experiences and mistakes.
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- Lessons Learned in Disaster Mental HealthThe Earthquake in Armenia and Beyond, pp. 9 - 17Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022