PsyCorps Partners with the American Red Cross in Hurricane Relief

In response to the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, PsyCorps' psychological team members mobilized to assist in the relief efforts by providing psychological support for survivors, first responders and caregivers.

PsyCorps collaborated with the disaster mental health division of the American Red Cross to deploy mental health professionals to the Gulf Coast area. PsyCorps team members, Chris Tobey, PhD, John Thoburn, PhD, Glenn Goodwin, PhD, Susen Musazade, MFT and Wm. Michael Tandy, MS were deployed to various regions and had key assignments to provide psychological triage and support.



PsyCorps president and founder, Dr. Goodwin, recently discussed the emerging mental health issues on King 5 News. Dr. Goodwin, now back from the Gulf Region, noted the importance of providing sustainable psychological first aid, not only to survivors, but also for caregivers involved in the first response, relief efforts, and reconstruction phase.

The PsyCorps model offers a flexible approach to provide psychological first aid interventions. PsyCorps' volunteer network includes trainers certified in specific modalities such as critical incident stress management, psychological triage, and resiliency-based interventions. Its psychological support team members are trained to provide psychological first aid to individuals, families, groups, and communities. PsyCorps emphasizes a strength-based approach that promotes the development of resiliency and positive coping skills. Recent research in the area of psychological first aid has shown that this type of crisis intervention is often the most effective in assisting disaster victims and preventing the development of more significant mental health disorders.

The hurricane season this year is unlike any other in recent years. The events in the Gulf Region have demonstrated the need for a planned effort to address the psychological consequences for disaster survivors as well as those who are involved in the relief effort. It is PsyCorps' vision to develop a global network of psychological support teams, who are prepared in advance of a disaster, to mobilize and respond to the emotional needs of survivors and caregivers. With your help and support, PsyCorps can continue to provide a proactive response and be an integral part of the healing process.