International disaster psychology

International disaster psychology

ECTS bodovi: 3
Jezik: engleski
Trajanje: jedan semestar
Status: izborni
Oblici nastave s brojem sati semestralno: 15 sati predavanja i 15 sati seminara
Uvjeti za upis kolegija: nema
Način provjere znanja: pismeni i usmeni ispit

Course Description

This course presents important information about providing mental health services in countries impacted by war and natural disasters.  The course will utilize the World Health Organization Interagency Standing Committee (IASC)  Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings which outlines a common framework for addressing psychosocial issues.  The course also includes discussion of how to evaluate these services in order to determine which services are working.

Objectives

This course is designed for graduate students who are interested in psychosocial services in post disaster situations.  Students will learn how to assist low and middle income countries improve mental health systems.

Textbooks and Readings

IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.  (2007) Geneva: WHO (Available at www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/content/products)
WHO-AIMS Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (2009) Geneva: WHO (Available at www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/WHO-AIMS/en/index.html)
Barrett, T., Sorenson, J.E. (2010) CPA.Human Service Program Evaluation, A User Approach to Program Information. (provided by instructor)
Gourevitch, P. (1998) We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families. New York: Picador, Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Course Outline

  • Week 1:  Introduction to mental health disaster issues.  Why are mental health issues   critical in post-disaster settings?  Who is at risk?

  • Week 2:  Emergency preparedness.  How to prepare for the psychosocial impact of disasters. Reading: IASC Guidelines, Chapters 1 and 2 Emergency Preparedness.    

  • Week 3:  Psychological First Aid/Minimum Response; what services should be prioritized in post-disaster situations.       Reading: IASC Guidelines, Chapter 3

  • Week 4:  Comprehensive Response; how to increase sustainability in countries.  Reading: IASC Guidelines, Chapter 2, Comprehensive Response

  • Week 5:  Rwanda: Background information about what led to the genocide in Rwanda and the psychosocial impact of the genocide. Reading: Gourevitch.

  • Week 6:  How to evaluate mental health services in non traditional settings Barrett and Sorensen: Chapter 1 and 2.

  • Week 7:  How to conduct a need assessment in post disaster settings. Barrett and Sorensen: Chapter 3.

  • Week 8:  How to evaluate treatment outcomes in post disaster settings. Barrett and Sorensen: Chapter 4.

  • Week 9:   Practical issues in evaluating services in post disaster settings. Barrett and Sorensen: Chapter 6

  • Week 10:  How to conduct practical research in post disaster settings. Barrett and Sorensen: Chapter 7.

  • Week 11: Utilizing the World Health Organization Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS).  Reading: WHO-AIMS (on WHO website)

  • Week 12: WHO-AIMS results for 42 countries and student presentations.

  • Week 13: Student presentations and Final Discussion of International Disaster Psychology Issues

 

Student project

Students will divide into groups of two or three.  
Each group of students will develop a plan for providing mental health services in a country that has experienced either a war or a natural disaster.
Each group of students will present their proposed plan to the class on Weeks 12 and 13.  The instructor and the other students in the class will provide feedback to the presenters.