From Relief to Recovery: Peer Support by Consumers Relieves the Traumas of Disasters and Recovery from Mental Illness

• NCJ Number: 215528
• Author(s): Daniel Fisher; Kay Rote; LaVerne Miller; David Romprey; Beth Filson
• Date Published: July 2006
• Length: 19 pages
• Contract Number(s): 280-04-0106
• Sponsoring Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA); SAMHSA’s GAINS Ctr
• Sale Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA); SAMHSA’s GAINS Ctr
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented at the After the Crisis: Healing From Trauma After Disasters Expert Panel Meeting, April 24-25, 2006, Bethesda, MD.

Annotation

This paper describes how peer support is consistent with crisis counseling for mentally ill persons affected by a disaster.

Abstract

The authors recommend that each State develop a disaster plan that includes peer support services. These services are best coordinated by a statewide organization of consumers of mental health services. Further, they propose a National Consumer Recovery from Disaster Network with representatives from each State. Training is a key part of these State programs. Training should include disaster response procedures, the development of contact options when telephone lines are unavailable, the use of "warmlines," trauma aftercare, outreach programs, an emergency medication program, and a long-term strategy for mental health services. Peer support means that people with current or past psychiatric disabilities who have coped with disasters in the past assist with services and outreach to mentally ill persons currently coping with a disaster. This paper first reviews the history of organized peer support programs for mentally ill individuals impacted by specific disasters. These peer support programs addressed the needs of the mentally ill following the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City (Project Heartland), September 11 in New York City (Project Liberty Peer Initiative), and hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Louisiana (Consumers Organizing for Recovery After Katrina). Lessons and recommendations derived from these programs are then presented. The experiences in Louisiana and Oklahoma showed the importance of having a statewide peer-run organization to sustain disaster relief for mentally ill survivors after the initial impact of the disaster has passed. The September 11 experiences in New York City illustrate how a strong, local peer-run organization can be an effective adjunct to professional mental health services for disaster survivors. Also presented are recommendations developed by the After the Crisis Initiative's Peer Support Model Development Workgroup. 22 references