(A53) A Community Home-Based Family Treatment Model in Disaster Areas

Abstract

The ongoing shelling of missiles on the city of Sderot in Israel for the past 8 years have caused damage in terms of life and property as well as have put more than 25,000 residents under significant and ongoing threat. A recent study examining the impact of living under these conditions has revealed that 28.4% of the area residents suffer from PTSD and 75%–94% of the children reported to experience posttraumatic symptoms (Gelkopf, Berger, Bleich, Cohen, submitted). Despite the psychological needs of the residents, mental health service utilization has been sparse due to many residents not feeling safe to leave their homeland fear the stigmatization in attending public mental-health clinics. In order to resolve this dilemma, we have developed a community home-based family intervention delivered through a mobile unit of professionals who provide mental-health services for to traumatized families in their homes. The model incorporates family systemic approach with trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral technique and narrative strategies. I will outline the model and present an evaluation of its efficacy in reducing PTSD and in improving daily functioning in adults and children. I will also describe several cases illustrating the model. Finally, we conclude that such a model may be useful in providing mental-health services in major disaster, such as Tsunamis, earthquakes and floods, particularly in developing countries where mental health capacity is limited and where local populations will not always have the means or be able to reach clinics.