We share your concern for and empathy with the victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia.
Based on our experience in disaster response, we recommend that APA and its members follow the advice of those closest to the scene and send what is most needed at this time: money.
We strongly urge psychologists both in Southeast Asia and in the United States wanting to volunteer in Southeast Asia to work within the disaster infrastructure put in place by the government and health agencies. Although the inclination may be to send psychologists to train or to administer crisis intervention, in a disaster of this magnitude, basic resources such as water, food and shelter simply can't accommodate unplanned-for arrivals, no matter how well-intentioned.
For those psychologists in Southeast Asia, we recommend working through an established disaster center such as the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, in Bangkok, Thailand (http://www.adpc.net/). Should an appeal for help from psychologists come through this center, it is much more likely to have been coordinated with the necessary agencies to ensure that the infrastructure can accommodate those invited. We also encourage APA leadership to contact the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center to ascertain appropriate assistance.
There is no substitute for disaster mental health training, but for those psychologists already in Southeast Asia, we suggest that APA make available the link to the Self-Care Unit (Unit 6) of the Train the Trainers Manual of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which has internationally-accepted standards of disaster interventions in psychological support http://www.ifrc.org/what/health/psycholog/manual.asp or http://www.usd.edu/dmhi/international.cfm)
In addition, the Disaster Response Network can play a role by providing mentoring and counsel to those providing crisis intervention to tsunami victims. DRN members also can seek opportunities in their communities to provide intervention with those in this country affected by the tsunami: those returning from Southeast Asia; those who have lost loved ones in the tsunami; and returning disaster responders.
Finally, we urge psychologists wanting to help to prepare now by getting training in disaster mental health. Although the tsunami crisis is urgent, it will require long term response and the need for psychological help in the region will likely continue for years to come.
Richard A. Heaps, PhD, ABPP
Western region representative to the DRN Advisory Committee
Professor of Counseling Psychology, Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah
Gerard A. (Jerry) Jacobs, Ph.D.
Director, Disaster Mental Health Institute
The University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota
Kit O'Neill, PhD
North Dakota DRN Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Psychology
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
Rosemary Schwartzbard, PhD
Southeastern representative to the DRN Advisory Committee
Independent Practice, Arlington, Virginia
Susan Silk, PhD
North Central representative to the DRN Advisory Committee
Independent Practice, Southfield, Michigan
John R. Tassey, PhD
South Central representative to the DRN Advisory Committee
Veteran's Administration Medical Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma