A newly released book, Disaster Mental Health Case Studies: Lessons Learned from Counseling in Chaos, was edited by three psychologists affiliated with the Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH) at SUNY New Paltz. Dr. James Halpern is the IDMH Founding Director and a Professor Emeritus. Dr. Amy Nitza is the current IDMH Director. Dr. Karla Vermeulen is the IDMH Deputy Director and an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department. They worked with mental health professionals who responded to disasters including Hurricane Katrina, the Joplin tornado, the mass shootings in Newtown and Las Vegas, and the Guinea Ebola outbreak, who each contributed a chapter about their experiences on the ground.
The resulting collection of 17 case studies by master clinicians reveals how disaster mental health interventions must be tailored to meet the needs of survivors. In recounting their experiences responding to natural and human-caused disasters, within the United States and around the world, contributing authors provide a rare and compelling view into the challenges, tragedies, pain, frustrations, and grief at the heart of disaster mental health work. Each author not only describes the impact on disaster survivors, but also tell readers how the work affected them personally. These case studies are framed by chapters, written by the editors, that provide context for the different types of disasters and bring together the themes and lessons learned. The book is a valuable resource for students studying mental health and school counseling, psychology and social work, and for working mental health professionals who would like to learn directly from experienced responders. It can stand alone or serve as a companion to Dr. Halpern and Dr. Vermeulen’s earlier textbook, Disaster Mental Health Interventions: Core Principles and Practices (2017, Routledge).
Details are on the publisher’s website.
Professor Emeritus James Halpern
IDMH Director Amy Nitza
Professor Karla Vermeulen
