Ethnocultural Perspectives on Disaster and Trauma - (International and Cultural Psychology) (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The past decade has brought home the terrible human, social, and economic consequences of natural and human-made disasters. This volume grew from efforts at the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (NC-PTSD) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to better understand, assist, and respond to the human experience of natural and man-made disasters. Disasters bring together victims and responders of varying ethnocultural and racial backgrounds that may limit or even impair the delivery of disaster services. This book offers the reader a unique of combination of chapters on basic disaster concepts, knowledge, and skills, as well as essential information on specific ethnocultural and racial groups.

From the Back Cover

Crises do not occur in cultural vacuums, but help often does. Good intentions are not enough. Lack of cultural understanding, sensitivity, and competencies can hamper and even harm the professional response to disasters. To help and heal, one must know and understand the cultural background of disaster victims. Ethnocultural Perspectives on Disaster and Trauma offers readers substantive knowledge in these three vital areas of disaster response.

In this pioneering volume, experts on individual and collective trauma experience, posttraumatic stress and related syndromes, and emergency and crisis intervention - share knowledge and insights on the cultural context of working with ethnic and racial minority communities during disasters. In each chapter, emotional, psychological, and social needs as well as communal strengths and coping skills that arise in disasters are documented for major minority groups in the United States including specific chapters on African Americans, Native Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Indians, Chinese Americans, Caribbean Americans, Latin Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Vietnamese Americans. Each chapter features information on:

• Demographics, major historical events, and core values of each population
• Important cultural insights, including communication styles, culture-specific disorders, and valid assessment instruments
• Therapeutic and healing traditions versus conventional medicine and therapy
• Perspectives specific to the population's experience with disaster and trauma
• Authors' recommendations for improving services to the population
• Practical appendices for readers new to the field

This unique volume is a cultural competency compendium that will increase to the effectiveness of all who respond to disasters. It will also be of interest and value to scholars, policy makers, and healthprofessionals working in the areas of disaster management, crisis intervention, and trauma. Ethnocultural Perspectives on Disaster and Trauma points readers to what the editors call the path "beyond simple assistance to healing and the restoration of hope and meaning."

Review Quotes

From the reviews:

"In Ethnocultural Perspectives on Disaster and Trauma: Foundations, Issues, and Applications, editors Marsella, Johnson, Watson, and Gryczynski have collected 12 chapters that collectively try to answer this question across a broad array of cultures. ... Ethnocultural Perspectives on Disaster and Trauma is a worthwhile read for anyone working in this field." (Donald Dutton, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 53 (49), December, 2008)