Friday, September 14, 2001

Mental health assistance available to ARC volunteers
By James Zwilling
Staff Reporter

Mental health of American Red Cross volunteers responding to the terrorists attacks on America will be a top priority in the coming months, said an official from the North Texas chapter.

Donna Roundsaville, chief development officer for the American Red Cross North Texas chapter said no area volunteers had been sent to the disaster sites as of Thursday, but local chapters remain on alert in the event that they are needed.

“Once the disaster scenes are evaluated and the Red Cross knows exactly what type of specialties they need, we may have some volunteers called up,” she said.

Roundsaville said maintaining morale of the organization’s volunteers is a top goal.

“We need to make sure that our volunteers stay healthy by dealing with their own emotions regarding the tragedy,” she said.

Susan Weeks, a TCU Harris College of Nursing instructor and American Red Cross volunteer, said training of emergency personnel does not always include extensive emotional training.

“Typically, training focuses on preparing to carry out the details of their specific job,” she said. “Emotional training has not always been a part of it.”

Roundsaville said the Red Cross developed an entire division of support for volunteers in the wake of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

Weeks said this group of disaster mental health volunteers, which she belongs to, are trained and qualified to offer support.

“Sometimes the most important thing we do is provide a box of Kleenex and a shoulder to cry on,” she said.

Weeks said one of the most important aspects of her job as a mental health volunteer is to simply be available when workers finish their shifts.

By being available at break times, mental health volunteers are able to discuss the emotions other volunteers are experiencing by performing what they call a debriefing, Weeks said.

Weeks said everyone is susceptible to mental health strains caused by the terrorists attacks, not just the volunteers directly involved with the rescue efforts.

“One of the most important things people should do is shelter themselves from some of the media,” Weeks said. “Some people are so saturated with news that it is becoming dangerous.”

Weeks said one of the things mental health volunteers try to do is urge people to return to a normal routine following a tragedy.

TCU Counseling Center staff psychologist John Koechel said the Center is prepared to help anyone at TCU who may be having a difficult time with the recent terrorist attacks.

The Center has one psychiatrist, four psychologists and two licensed counselors ready to assist students, Koechel said.

James Zwilling
j.g.zwilling@student.tcu.edu