Mental health disaster training announced

ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 31 (UPI) -- U.S. mental health professionals and spiritual advisers are being trained in New York to counsel victims of natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

University of Rochester Medical Center researchers announced Wednesday the receipt of the final portion of a $610,000 New York State grant to conduct such training.

The program is designed to address the fact that most mental health professionals have no disaster mental health training. The Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Oklahoma City Bombing and many other such events have demonstrated current resources and infrastructure are overmatched by victims' needs, university researchers said.

"When disaster strikes, people experience a range of stress reactions, with most recovering quickly, but up to a third experiencing serious, long-term mental health problems," said Jack Herrmann, assistant professor of psychiatry and director of the university's Program in Disaster Mental Health.

"With the right training, mental health professionals can reduce suffering and stress in the short term, and also identify those who may need more professional help over time," he added. "Our effort in New York state is clearly unique, and hopefully, the beginning of a national trend."