Making Trauma Intervention Principles Public Policy

The development of strong and relevant public policies has been recognized as a cornerstone of public health, defined as “the process of mobilizing and engaging local, state, national, and international resources to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy” (Bryant, 2002; Detels, McEwen, Beaglehole, & Tanaka, 2002). The international panel of disaster mental health experts (Hobfoll, Watson, et al., 2007) who reviewed and synthesized the scientific evidence in “Five Essential Elements of Immediate and Mid–Term Mass Trauma Intervention” provides a set of five principles to inform and promote early disaster and terrorism mental health interventions and policy. This approach is consistent with a broad process of reform of mental health services occurring in many nations that emphasizes mental health promotion, early detection of mental disorders with early treatment interventions, cultural relevance, and family and community involvement (Herrman, Saxena, & Moodie, 2005; New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003; Mental Health America (MHA), 2005). Hobfoll, Watson and colleagues (2007) describe what is known about interventions that address aspects of each of the five principal elements, demonstrating that there has been substantial growth in scientific information about psychological trauma and treatments with different populations and types of trauma. As such, this paper makes an important contribution, gathering essential information about what can be done to promote safety, foster calming, enhance self–and–community efficacy, maintain connectedness, and instill hope. It will serve as a valuable resource for the trauma field that incorporates many of the scientific advances of recent years. But it is not enough. While the synthesis of scientific facts and clinical experience is critically important, we have a responsibility to share this information with those whose lives intersect with survivors of trauma and who make decisions that affect their well-being. It is especially important to share our knowledge with those who shape policies to prepare communities and societies for traumatic events, whether it is a sudden terrorist attack, tsunami, hurricane, typhoon or tropical cyclone, school shooting, rape, torture, or other kind of trauPsychiatry 70(4) Winter 2007 316