Disaster Management: Psychological First Aid Short- and Long-Term Disaster Management Waleed Ahmad Principles and Techniques of Psychological First Aid Meet 4 basic standards. They are: Consistent with research evidence on risk and resilience following trauma, Applicable and practical in field settings, Appropriate for developmental levels across the lifespan, Culturally informed and delivered flexibly. Disaster Management in the Short-term Intervening after disasters The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended psychological and social interventions during the reconsolidation phase after disasters to improve the mental health of the affected populations and prevent psychopathology (WHO 2003b). These interventions include: Availability of community volunteers,  Provision of non-intrusive emotional support,  Psychoeducation, and  Encouraging pre-existing positive ways of coping. 

Human Resources, Psychometric and Treatment Facilities you need to make the Forensic Evaluations Scenario The local authorities have requested you to provide forensic psychiatry support for prison services in your area. What are the various human resources, psychometric, and treatment facilities that you would require to make the forensic evaluations? Human Resources Forensic psychiatrist Forensic psychologist Occupational therapist Social worker Trained nurses Psychometric Tools Historical clinical risk management-20  Violence risk appraisal guide Psychopathy checklist Revised Sexual violence risk 20 Stalking assessment and management Spousal assault risk assessment guide General Scales PANNS HAMD IPDE HADS CAGE/AUDIT COWS Coloured progressive matrices  Treatment Facilities Seclusion rooms Electroconvulsive therapy rooms

Interventions for Mental Health Promotion in The Community The World Health Organization has enlisted two types of interventions to promote mental health in the community; macro-interventions and micro-interventions.  Macro Interventions  Improving nutrition Improving housing Improving access to education Strengthening community networks Reducing the misuse of addictive substances Intervening after disasters Preventing violence Micro interventions Preschool educational and psychosocial interventions Reducing violence and improving the emotional well-being in the school setting Effective school-based interventions for mental health Improving the school ecology Multicomponent programs Reducing the strain of unemployment  Stress prevention programs at the workplace Improving the mental health of the elderly Interventions for Low-Income Settings Advocacy Empowerment Social support e.g. improving maternal health will improve mother-child attachment/bonding and outcomes for the child. 

Electroconvulsive therapy Steps of application summarised. Step-1:  Preparing the patient Obtain consent, pass intravenous line, perform a physical examination. Get the patient nil -by-mouth at midnight. Before shifting the patient to the electroconvulsive therapy room, Check case notes including the medication chart for medications that affect seizure threshold or interact with anaesthesia, the outcome of earlier electroconvulsive treatments, especially seizure duration and complications. Check for the placement—whether unilateral or bilateral—agreed. Confirm there is a valid consent form.  The nursing staff checks vital signs, have the patient void, remove dentures, jewelry, hairpins, eyeglasses, and change into a gown.  Step-2: Pre-p rocedure When the patient enters the treatment room, introduce yourself, put the patient at the ease, and confirm their identity. Also, confirm the patient has been nil-by-mouth for at least 5-hours. Confirm the patient continues to consent. Check vital