Powerpoint Presentations: The 22nd Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy

Presentations by the Panelists

Overview of Louisiana's Disaster Mental Health Preparedness and Response to Hurricane by Katrina by Anthony H. Speier, Ph.D., Louisiana Office of Mental Health

USPS EAP Operational Value Approach to Disaster Mental Health in the Wake of Katrina & Rita by W. Dennis Derr, Ed.D., SPHR Project Officer USPS EAP, Senior Consultant, Signature Resources

Facing The Future: Who Will Own Readiness For Our Emerging Threats? by RADM Brian W. Flynn, Ed.D., Assistant Surgeon General (USPHS, Ret.), Adjunct Professor Of Psychiatry, Associate Director, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Dept of Psychiatry

Mental Health Services Post Hurricane Katrina: The Community Support and Resiliency Program by Paula A. Madrid, Psy.D., Director, Operation Assist - Mental Health Services, Associate Research Scientist, Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health - Columbia University

Katrina's Children in the Aftermath of the Disaster: What Have We Learned? by Joy D. Osofsky, Ph.D. and Howard J. Osofsky, M.D., Ph.D., Louisiana Spirit, Louisiana Rural Trauma Services Center (NCTSN)

Presentations by the Work Groups

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it has become clear that improvement is needed in the infrastructure of the disaster response system in order to ensure the delivery of mental health services to men, women, and children during and after emergencies and disasters. Given what we have learned about the state of the science for disaster mental health, the most current services and treatments available, and the policy issues facing disaster mental health:

Each work group was charged with determining at least two priorities for disaster mental health response, including planning and preparedness. For each priority, at least one strategy for accomplishing or implementing that strategy was developed.

Black Group
Promote psychological first-aid as mental health is the responsibility of all short and long-term disaster planning and response.

Dark Blue Group
Create a transparent mental health leadership plan, a chain of command for mental health, unified mental health training, and uniform infusion of mental health concepts in disaster preparedness and response training.

Light Blue Group
Coordinate services and develop an evidence base.

Red Group
Create blueprints that will promote maximization of healthy behaviors and well-being while minimizing dysfunction for those distressed and ill. Plans must reach local levels and be actively evaluated and updated based on evidence from drills and events.

Orange Group
Create a consistent mental health message; create an evidence-based, culturally-relevant model of disaster mental health response; develop visible national mental health leaders; and include consumers and community members in disaster mental health planning.

Yellow Group
Design and mobilize competent, comprehensive, acute disaster response system with mental health components, as well as develop an adequate universal healthcare infrastructure and coverage for mental health.