Join us for an engaging online Lunch and Learn event with Susie Schmitz, MAIDP focused on Psychological Preparedness & Maintaining Wellness During Disasters. In today's unpredictable world, it's crucial to equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools to stay mentally and emotionally resilient during challenging times.
Disaster survivors are not the only ones exposed to trauma and feel its impacts. Responders and first receivers are often exposed to different levels of trauma and stress which can result in temporary or long term effects. This session will provide a background on disaster trauma, common signs and results of stress, and an overview of how responders can psychologically prepare themselves. It will also highlight tools and techniques for agencies, facilities, etc. to support their staff's wellness before, during, and after an emergency.
Susan Schmitz is the Project Coordinator for the Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management (WRAP-EM). She has worked for over 16 years in disaster research, education, and planning and holds a Masters of Arts degree in International Disaster Psychology from the University of Denver. Ms. Schmitz has held positions in private consulting, federal government, nonprofit sector, and academia. In each of these positions she has played a leadership role in initiatives integrating disaster psychology into emergency management and resilience building. Projects of note include the development of a psychological preparedness course for US Veterans Administration healthcare employees and the co-creation of “Psychological First Aid for Volunteer Responders” for SF Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams.
Publications: Wyte-Lake, T., Schmitz, S., Kornegay, R.J. et al. Three case studies of community behavioral health support from the US Department of Veterans Affairs after disasters. BMC Public Health 21, 639 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10650-x
Shultz, J., Besser, A., Kelly, F., Allen, A., Schmitz, S., Hausmann, V., . . . Neria, Y. (2012). Psychological Consequences of Indirect Exposure to Disaster Due to the Haiti Earthquake. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 27(4), 359-368.doi:10.1017/S1049023X12001008