wfn.org | Trauma Team Plans Direct Response to World Disasters

["Beckett, John" <BeckettJ@gc.adventist.org>]

ANN Bulletin
Adventist News Network
Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters
May 31, 2000
----------------------

Trauma Team Plans Direct Response to World Disasters
Loma Linda, CA, USA .... [ANN]
--------------------------------
 In a world increasingly troubled by disasters, both natural and man-made, a
team of specialists is forming to meet the inner needs of those caught up in
such traumatic events. The plan for the International Behavorial Health
Trauma Team (IBHTT) is to respond in crisis intervention mode whenever
called upon to assist in the aftermath of disaster and tragedy. 

"We're looking to provide training and support for critical incidents,
working through world relief organizations," says coordinator Dr. Beverley
Buckles, chair of Social Work at Loma Linda University. "We want to interact
with them to complement their services in aiding those affected by trauma."

The 30-member team is believed to be the first of its type in the world to
directly address trauma from a multi-disciplinary approach, and it is made
up of psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social
workers, nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists. 

The team, based at the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Loma Linda University
and Medical Center, has been established in the words of its own manifesto
"to address the educational and clinical needs of Adventist and
non-Adventist professionals, clergy as well as other identified disaster
relief workers responsible for intervening with individuals, families, small
groups and communities experiencing the traumas of catastrophic natural
disasters or war."

"The concept is to become involved in the immediate consequences of mass
trauma, to help those directly affected and to also deal with the secondary
trauma of the healthcare and aid workers who are impacted by the trauma of
others," Buckles continues. "A team of around six members would typically be
involved, working from five to ten days to provide help and training in
techniques to deal with such trauma. In many incidents, such assistance and
support is just as vital as the practical medical help and physical
re-building, for some are so traumatized they are unable to function and
assist with reconstruction."

The Trauma Team is now on standby and prepared to respond to crises
worldwide, making a practical contribution to the humanitarian, educational,
and health development needs which the Adventist Church sees as vital to its
world ministry. [Jonathan Gallagher]
----------------------
Contact Information: 
Communications Department
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600

Phone: 301-680-6300
e-mail: info@gc.adventist.org
web: http://www.adventist.org/