In the wake of 9/11, the world is all too aware of crises but largely underprepared for the psychological repercussions of traumatic events on victims and recovery staff. Salli Saari examines in detail the psychological effect traumatic events can have on an individual, taking the reader step-by-step through each stage of the process of understanding and recovery. She also discusses the role of social support, the media and work in addressing trauma, and what methods can be adopted to help victims cope after a traumatic incident.Based on work within the Finnish organized crisis care network, A Bolt from the Blue shows how crisis care can be an integral part of health care services, covering all traumatic incidents from a death in the family to major accidents and disasters. This book is an essential text for any professional who comes into contact with people affected by a traumatic experience, including psychologists, counsellors, medical doctors, social workers, nurses, pastoral carers/clergy, and students in these fields. It is also accessible enough to be of use to laymen who have encountered a traumatic experience and may need help.
1. To the reader; 2. Background; History of concept of psychological trauma - return to Freud; Origin and evolution of psychology of disasters; 3. Sudden traumatic events and situations; Disasters, major accidents and exceptional societal situations; Distinguishing features of a traumatic event. Everyday traumatic events; 4. Traumatic events and psychological victims; Considering the psychological angle in defining victims; Viewpoints in definition of victims of a traumatic event; Immediate victims and vicarious victims; 5. The process of coping with a traumatic experience; Psychological shock. Reaction stage; Stage of working through and coping; Reorientation stage; Factors influencing the working through of a traumatic experience; 6. Breakdowns in the process of coping with a traumatic experience; Fixation in the shock stage; Fixation in the reaction stage, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Denial of the truth; Fixation in grieving; Criminal and anti-social behaviour; 7. Long-term consequences of traumatic experiences; 8. Measures to prevent traumatisation; Are preventive measures necessary? Bases and principles of acute crisis counselling; Helping people cope; 9. Psycho-social support and services after traumatic events; Crisis work is social work; Modes of acute crisis work in major accidents; 10. The media and a traumatic event; Role of the media in producing traumatic events; Role of the media in promoting psychological coping in a traumatic event; Protecting victims from publicity; 11. Psycho-social support during the shock stage; Psychological first aid; Psychological defusing; 12. Dealing with psychological reactions - debriefing. History and applications of psychological debriefing method; Aims of psychological debriefing; Applications of psychological debriefing; Timing of psychological debriefing. Planning and organisation of the session; Assembling debriefing groups; Large debriefing groups; Practical arrangements of a debriefing session; Leaders of a debriefing session; 13. Outline of a psychological debriefing session; Stages of psychological debriefing; Stages of debriefing and depth of the process. Role and duties of the leader in debriefing; The follow-up session; 14. Children and traumatic events; Children are underestimated. Special features of children's traumatic experiences; Children's ways of dealing with traumatic experiences. Children and Psychological debriefing; 15. When work traumatises; Traumatic experiences and stress; Traumatic experiences at work. Psycho-social support and services for emergency personnel; 16. Organisation of crisis counselling in sudden traumatic situations; Everyday traumatic events and situations; Work of local crisis groups; Hospital crisis groups; Major disasters; 17. Effectiveness of measures preventing traumatisation; Critical research; Central principles of research into effectiveness of crisis counselling; Research findings on effectiveness of crisis counselling; Conclusions on effect
