Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/09)
"Return to Equilibrium" is a compilation of articles written about sessions held at the 7th Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Conference held in Laramie, Wyoming. Two main topics were covered at this conference. The first topic was Disaster Mental Health. The second topic was Returning Military and Families. In this book, equilibrium is noted by Henri Louis Chatelier (1850-1936) as "...when a stress is applied to a system in equilibrium, the system will change so as to undo or offset the effect of the stress." This idea can also be applied to everyday situations.
It is extremely important for health practitioners and emergency workers to be prepared for emergencies, natural disasters, terroristic attacks and times of war. When dealing with traumatic incidents such as these, everyone is affected, including the victim, their family members and health care professionals. By being prepared to deal with these issues, research has shown that early intervention can reduce the chances of PTSD, acute anxiety, and depression. Ways to be prepared for these situations are discussed and a variety of other factors are identified that can increase the likelihood that disorders will occur. Having an operational emergency plan prepared ahead of time can make a huge difference in the ability to be prepared for the crisis.
Returning military personnel and their families need to be helped upon returning from deployment. Each military person has to deal with issues involved with being pulled away from his or her life when deployed. Then they have to handle living in constant danger. The families have to deal with the change in dynamics when a parent is absent and the disruption that occurs when they return. There are also three main issues that might severely affect the chances of being able to have the equilibrium reestablished. Deployed military personnel are commonly affected by combat-related stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and depression. There is also a high incidence of suicide as a result of these issues.
I found the section on counseling Native Americans and their families to be extremely informative. It is interesting to note that Native Americans "have joined the military at the largest per capita rate of any ethnic group." Therefore it is imperative that we have an understanding of their culture and spirituality so that we can appropriately address their needs.
Contained within the pages of this book are "An Individualized Personality, Coping and Wellness Survey; a Deployment Clinic Intake Form; and veteran case examples. There is also an overview of emergency plan protocols including information about those that already exist. Readers will find the deployment support resources, and online resources to be very beneficial.
I found "Return to Equilibrium" to be very informative and necessary for mental health practitioners. As a person who works with disabled students in the community college setting, I also believe that this information is pertinent to college counselors and instructors. The better our understanding, the better we can serve their needs and help them reestablish equilibrium.
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Much discussion follows disasters and critical incidents about returning to normal, but "normal" is never the same again. "Return to Equilibrium", involving integrating the event, its effects, meanings and recognition it's part of one's life can build a new balance and create a new enriched life. Good or bad, experience changes us. Integrating experience into our life creates a new balance. Re-establishing balance in life integrates the event as part of one's life, constructively developing a new "normality". "Return to Equilibrium" is a goal of recovery. Military personnel (Regular, Reserve, National Guard) are deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq for various lengths and number of tours, leaving jobs, family and college for extended periods to serve our country. While deployed, they are in harm's way 24/7. Some are severely wounded physically. Many others are wounded emotionally and behaviorally. Family members are all affected by deployments. They are supported through Family Services groups during deployment. Veterans and families receive assistance upon return into the community. Veterans organizations provide additional support. Increasing numbers of Veterans return with PTSD, anxiety, depression, somatic problems and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), directly affecting relations among spouses, children, friends, relatives and fellow employees in our communities. Particularly disturbing is the number of suicides occurring among military personnel. Most affected is the returning veteran. Adjusting to changed lives and re-adjusting to families and community is not always smooth. How can communities better understand these adjustments, support returning veterans and become involved in re-integrating them back into communities? What resources are available? What is the role of mental health professionals? Who do they network and interact with? Do they have a role with other healthcare providers, public health, hospitals, veterans organizations, veterans administration, military support groups, etc? How can these groups strategically plan how to address and respond to needs in a combined effort? What issues need to be addressed? November 6-8, 2008, the Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Institute held their Annual Disaster Mental Health Conference in Laramie, Wyoming. The Conference theme was: Return to Equilibrium. Two areas were addressed: Disaster Mental Health and Returning Military and Families.Praise for The Proceedings of the Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Conference"...A must have for first responders and mental health professionals. Addressing the needs of people who work in these fields is critical. The better trained they are to be emotionally equipped for disasters, the better they can help others. I think that the pages of information covered in this book will besome of the most important information needed by people in this field today."--Page Lovitt, Reader Views"This compilation of papers deals with peopleʹs reactions to a wide variety of disasters, including not only terror and Hurricane Katrina, but child abuse and the trauma suffered by families of service members. Taken together, the papers are fascinating. These Proceedings provide insight into the nature of the individual's response to terror and disaster. They should be interesting reading for everyone who either indirectly or directly has been affected."--Linda Benninghoff, author of DeparturesRM DMH Institute PressPO Box 786Laramie, WY 82073-0786Phone: 307-399-4818www.rmrinstitute.org"Learning from the past and planning for the future"An Imprint of Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com
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