 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Heike Thiel de Bocanegra, PhD MPH, Ellen Brickman, PhD, and Chris O Sullivan, PhD. Research and Evaluation, Safe Horizon, 180 Livingston Street, Suite 303, Brooklyn, NY 11201, 718 928 6916, hthiel@safehorizon.org
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of secondary trauma on volunteers or redeployed workers without a mental health background. Data were obtained from 163 volunteers who were engaged as intake workers or case workers, assessing clients' financial needs and determining eligibility for aid. They participated in a semi-structured phone interview which asked about their background and volunteer experience, and completed a mail survey with standardized instruments, including the PTSD Checklist (PCL) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
Two distinct profiles of volunteers emerged in this sample: Volunteers who had been outside of New York at the time of the attack tended to be older and were more likely to have participated in prior disaster relief. Volunteers from New York reported high exposure to the attack, such as witnessing it (32 percent) and being concerned about the well-being of a loved one during the day of the attack (42 percent).
Several months after the attack, 7.4 percent of the volunteers met diagnostic criteria of PTSD. Close to 10 percent of the sample had BDI scores indicating moderate to severe depression. PTSD and depression were correlated with age, gender, exposure to the attacks, unmet support need, and self-reported increased alcohol and substance use. Prior disaster relief experience and living with a partner appeared to have a protective effect against the development of mental health problems. The presentation will report the results of the multivariate analyses and suggest implications for volunteer training and support.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Depression, Violence
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.