The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66900

Sydney Wyatt Connor, MPH, Kerrie Gruber, MEd, PhD (ABD), Vanessa A. Payne, MS, and Stacie L. Smith, MA (exptd 2004). Life Sciences Division, Strategic Analysis, Inc., 3601 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22201, 703-797-2296, connos@sainc.com

The attacks of September 11, and the subsequent anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001 demonstrated to the American public that the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) within the United States, especially the use of biological agents, is a real and personal threat. Because of Israel’s extensive experience in preparing for and responding to terrorist attacks, the authors conducted interviews with key personnel from Israel’s Homefront Command and the Mental Health Division of the Israeli Defense Force to obtain their perspectives and recommendations on preparing for future WMD attacks. In particular, the authors investigated preparations aimed at reducing the psychological toll, especially Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), on the civilian population, and on effective interventions that could reduce psychosomatic illness and overutilization of health services by the worried well in response to such attacks. The recommendations of the Israeli experts were then compared with similar information gained from interviews and focus groups conducted with first responder and health care and planning personnel in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area who were directly involved in the U.S. response to the 2001 anthrax attacks. The recommendations of both the Israeli officials and local disaster response planners were evaluated and several strategies for dealing with public mental health issues in a future possible attack have been identified. Finally, the authors consider the implications of their findings for civilian and non-civilian populations.

Learning Objectives:

After viewing this poster, the viewer will be able to add a public mental health component to their local community or home institution's terrorism disaster response plan that incorporates lessons learned from both the state of Israel and that of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Specifically, viewers will:
• Know how long is the window of opportunity to most effectively deliver public mental health interventions after a terrorist attack
• Know what public mental health interventions have demonstrably reduced the incidence of post-traumatic- and other stress disorders among civilian, first responder, and military populations
• Define the role for mental health professionals, first responders, and community leaders in preventive mental health efforts immediately after a terrorist attack.

Keywords: Public Mental Health, Disasters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.