NCJ Number
219777
Journal
Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health Volume: 21 Issue: 3/4 Dated: 2006 Pages: 21-33
Date Published
2006
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Using a military model for public health intervention, this article describes a systematic approach for a behavioral health response in the aftermath of a terrorist attack and outlines a series of interventions based on such an approach in civilian workplaces.
Abstract
In the military model for public health intervention, multidisciplinary teams use a program of health education and informational briefing at the workplace and outside of traditional health-care settings. The intent of these briefings is to promote adaptive responses and diminish post-terrorism distress, grief reactions, and risk behaviors. The approach also integrates worker family support and the workplace response. The multidisciplinary teams conduct outreach work within the workplace in order to locate workers who are at high risk for posttraumatic illness or complex distress reactions, so as to overcome any barriers to health care access. The teams also identify and coordinate appropriate referral for individuals who may require extended medical or mental health treatment. This article describes how this model was implemented at the Pentagon after the September 11 terrorist attack on that building. This effort, named Operation Solace, first categorized according to risk potentially impacted military communities from highest to lowest as follows: injured or physically impacted, family member of someone killed or injured, work colleague of someone killed or injured, emergency responder (military or civilian), other Pentagon employees/visitors during and after the attack, and the national capital region population at large. Levels of intervention for all these risk groups were identified as community-based, workplace-based, primary care, or specialty mental health clinic-based. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 19 references