Coping With Catastrophe

Disasters strike with sudden violence tearing bodies, lives and families apart. Coping with Catastrophe is a practical handbook for people who provide psychosocial aftercare for victims of disasters. Peter E. Hodgkinson and Michael Stewart are leading experts in the field of disaster aftercare, and this book is based on their unique and extensive experience, which includes the Bradford fire, the Zeebruger disaster, the Lockerbie plane crash and the Hillsborough disaster. Trauma has become the subject of much research since the first edition of this book; both its nature and treatment are now better understood. This is reflected in the second edition, which includes the latest findings on the nature and effects of trauma, the psychological debriefing process and the effects of emergency work, and the latest treatment models for post-traumatic stress and abnormal grief. Using the survivor's own words, the authors provide a vivid and moving account of the experiences of survival and bereavement under different types of conditions. They summarise the most up-to-date thinking about the psychological effects of disaster, and describe the therapeutic strategies available for treating victims with persistent problems, emphasising the welfare needs of staff involved in rescue and support. They also discuss in detail the practical aspects of co-ordinating disaster relief, such as the organisation and planning of specific services like outreach facilities and crisis helplines after the event. Eminently practical and easy to read, Coping with Catastrophe provides readers with information and skills to respond effectively and confidently to the needs of disaster survivors. It will be of immense value to a wide variety of helping professionals and carers, including social workers, psychologists, doctors, voluntary counsellors, and all those whose work brings them into contact with disaster victims.