Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ttngx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-14T06:12:07.915Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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: lars.weisath@psykiatri.uio.no
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Ursano, RJ, Fullerton, CS, Norwood, A (eds): Terrorism and Disaster. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2003.Google Scholar
2.Weisæth, L: Stress Reactions to an Industrial Disaster. Medical Faculty, University of Oslo: Oslo Norway, 1984.Google Scholar
3.World Health Organization: Psychosocial Guidelines for Preparedness and Intervention in Disasters. Draft version. WHO: Geneva, 1991.Google Scholar
4.National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health and Mass Violence: Evidence-Based Early Psychological Intervention for Victims/Survivors of Mass Violence. A Workshop to Reach Consensus on Best Practices. NIH Publication No.02-5138, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 2002.Google Scholar
5.Holen, A: A Long-Term Outcome Study of Survivors from a Disaster. The Alexander Kielland Disaster in Perspective. University of Oslo: Oslo Norway, 1990.Google Scholar
6.Malt, UF, Weisæth, L: Disaster psychiatry and traumatic stress studies in Norway. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1989;355 Suppl:7–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Bryant, RA, Harvey, AG, Dang, ST, Basten, C: Treatment of acute stress disorder: A comparison of cognitive-behavioral therapy and supportive counseling. J Consult Clin Psychol 1998;66:862–866.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Bryant, RA, Sackville, T, Dang, ST et al. : Treating acute stress disorder: An evaluation of cognitive-behavioural therapy and supportive counseling techniques. Amer J Psychiat 1999;156:1780–1786.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Thuen, F: Helseoppfolging etter en togkatastrofe (Health follow-up after a rail disaster). Report to the Directorate of Social and Health Affairs. Oslo, Norway, 2003.Google Scholar