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Preventing After-Effects of Disaster Trauma: The Information and Support Centre

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Lars Weisæth
Lars Weisæth*
Affiliation:
Professor, Division of Disaster Psychiatry, University of Oslo/The Military Medical Competence Center, Oslo, Norway
*
Professor, Division of Disaster Psychiatry, University of Oslo/The Military Medical Competence Center, Building 20, Sognsvannsveien 21, 0320 Oslo, Norway E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

This paper describes the establishment and activities of the Information and Support Centres developed in Norway in the aftermath of large-scale accidents and disasters between 1980 and 1990. The function of these Centres is to provide rapid, authoritative information and psychosocial support services for the next-of-kin of disaster victims, including the families of those missing. By gathering together those affected by a particular event, the Centres provide a setting in which individuals and families can support each other. The activities of the psychosocial team include triage for mental-health emergencies, orienting survivors to immediately available local services, communication with family, friends, and community, and other forms of psychological first aid. The psychosocial team also provides linkages to local health, clergy, and other local resources that are near to the family's home and could provide continued care if necessary.

Keywords

communicationdisastersearly psychosocial interventioninformation and support to familiespsychological triage
Type
Special Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 19 , Special Issue 1: Psychosocial Themes , March 2004 , pp. 86 - 89
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2004

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