Question

A deadly shooting has occurred in a small Connecticut elementary school. The nation is in shock from the devastating death toll of such young children, with no explanation or understanding possible to place the grief into context. You are called in as nurse members of a disaster mental health team to work with the neighboring schools.

Describe the strategies you will use to work with these children following their knowledge of the event.

Answer 1

disaster mental health response strategies provide timely and phase appropriate mental health services to disaster survivors, families, workers and organisation

THE KEY CHARACTERISTICS

1. adventuresomeness

2. sociability

3. calmness

4. system savvy

5. therapeutic acumen

the strategies that to be applied to children are

A EMPATHIC BEHAVIOURS : ability to help the survivor

* express desire to comprehend survivor

* discuss what is important to survivor

* refer to survivor feelings

* correctly interpret survivors implicit feelings

B. GENUINE BEHAVIOURS

friendly & open

spontaneous rather than rigid

actions congruent with intent

C RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOUR

be on time at meetings

express non verbal attentiveness

summarize message accurately

D LISTENING

ask clarifying questions

paraphrase statements accurately

verbally reflect feeling accurately

ask open ended questions

E PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC STRUCTURES

cognitive behavioural therapy

educate stress response

mileu therapy

assist when appropriate with pragmatic problems

maintain role of helper rather than friend or help receiver