Introduction
Welcome to the Psychological First Aid in Radiation Disasters Training program. This program is designed to increase your awareness of the mental health consequences of disasters caused by a radiological or nuclear incident.
In this program, we will hear people who have first-hand experience from real radiation emergencies. One is a tragic radiation exposure involving abandoned medical equipment in Goiânia, Brazil in 1987. Another is the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power reactor near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1979.
We will hear their accounts and their observations of the psychosocial consequences of these events. We know from these incidents and others that the mental health consequences of radiation disasters are unique and serious, and in many ways can be even greater and longer-lasting than the physical or economic consequences.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed this program to help clinical and public health professionals better prepare to respond to radiation emergencies.
You don’t have to be a mental health practitioner to benefit from this training: disaster mental health training is important for all public health professionals, clinicians, first responders, as well as volunteers who may respond to a radiation disaster. This program is meant to serve as a supplement for people who have had previous training or experience in psychological first aid or disaster mental health. For courses that will provide this basic framework please see the Resources section.
Research has shown that disaster preparedness training, along with other interventions, can reduce the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder for workers and volunteers who respond to disasters. We invite you to explore this training and consider the mental health component as a key part of your disaster planning and preparation for all types of radiation disasters—natural, technological, or terrorist incidents.
Welcome to the Psychological First Aid in Radiation Disasters training program designed to increase awareness of mental health consequences of a:
- Radiological incident
- Nuclear incident
First-hand experience and accounts from radiation emergencies:
- 1987: Radiation exposure involving abandoned medical equipment in Goiânia, Brazil
- 1979: Accident at Three Mile Island nuclear power reactor in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Psychological Mental health consequences of radiation disasters are unique, serious, and can be more severe and longer lasting than physical and economic consequences.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed this program to help clinical and public health professionals better prepare to respond to radiation emergencies.
Disaster mental health training is important for all:
- Public health professionals
- Clinicians
- First responders
- Volunteers who may respond to a radiation disaster
For courses that provide this basic framework, please see the "resources" section.
Disaster preparedness training can reduce the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder for workers and volunteers who respond to disasters.
