The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

3141.0: Monday, November 17, 2003 - Table 10

Abstract #66900

Terrorism, emergency preparedness, and response: Lessons for public mental health from the Israeli and American experiences

Sydney Wyatt Connor, MPH, Kerrie Gruber, MEd, PhD (ABD), Vanessa A. Payne, MS, and Stacie L. Smith, MA (exptd 2004). Life Sciences Division, Strategic Analysis, Inc., 3601 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22201, 703-797-2296, connos@sainc.com

The attacks of September 11, and the subsequent anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001 demonstrated to the American public that the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) within the United States, especially the use of biological agents, is a real and personal threat. Because of Israel’s extensive experience in preparing for and responding to terrorist attacks, the authors conducted interviews with key personnel from Israel’s Homefront Command and the Mental Health Division of the Israeli Defense Force to obtain their perspectives and recommendations on preparing for future WMD attacks. In particular, the authors investigated preparations aimed at reducing the psychological toll, especially Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), on the civilian population, and on effective interventions that could reduce psychosomatic illness and overutilization of health services by the worried well in response to such attacks. The recommendations of the Israeli experts were then compared with similar information gained from interviews and focus groups conducted with first responder and health care and planning personnel in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area who were directly involved in the U.S. response to the 2001 anthrax attacks. The recommendations of both the Israeli officials and local disaster response planners were evaluated and several strategies for dealing with public mental health issues in a future possible attack have been identified. Finally, the authors consider the implications of their findings for civilian and non-civilian populations.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Public Mental Health, Disasters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Aftermath: Response to Terrorism and Other Disasters

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA