The Trauma Recovery Network recently delivered a focused intervention program to a group of 12 key emergency response and community workers involved in post bushfire support in NE Victoria. These workers continually deal with multiple instances of trauma in their communities (fire, flood, drought, accidents). The program is designed to address the build-up of stress using a group EMDR method of desensitising the memories without having to share with others what they are thinking. The group intervention has been used worldwide to help large populations in disaster areas to quickly move beyond the distressing memories without long-term individual therapy. Funding has been received from a US based organisation -Direct Relief - to provide 5 of these group intervention sessions which Pam Brown, a psychologist specialising in EMDR, coordinates and leads.
Feedback from community workers who attended the initial pilot was very positive. They are keen to see increased community access to this method of PTSD intervention and several qualified mental health workers now wish to undertake the specialist EMDR training for which the Trauma Recovery Network has been funded through the District 9800 Bushfire Appeal.
After the session, Pam received very moving feedback on the training including:
“please let your Rotary Club know they have our heartfelt thanks... it was of immense value and perfect timing... it’s been a rough 18 months post disaster and it’s not getting any easier. ... You guys rock!”
