Dr.SuzanneA.Black,Psy.D.- ClinicalPsychologist inPrivatePractice,Paris,FranceandNewYorkCarolFoley- Director,GlobalAssistanceServicesandInternationalAlliances,HTHWorldwide/GeoBlueKareyFuhs- AssociateDirectorforStudyAbroadintheOfficeofInternationalProgramDevelopment(IPD)atNorthwestern UniversityJoshTaylor- AssociateViceChancellor,GlobalPrograms, NewYorkUniversity
MentalHealth&TraumaticEventsAbroad:LessonsLearnedfromthe2015ParisAttacks
DraftSchedule3:30to3:40– Introduction (CarolFoley)
3:40to4:05–PsychologicalResponsetoTerrorIncidents (Suzanne Black,Psy.D.)
4:05to4:25– NewYorkUniversityResponse(JoshTaylor)Questions forNewYorkUniversity
4:25to4:45– Northwestern UniversityResponse(Karey Fuhs)QuestionsforNorthwesternUniversity
4:45to5:00– GeneralQuestions
• TheterroristattacksinParisonNovember13,2015arebeingusedasabackdroptodiscusstheimportanceofaccesstomentalhealthresourcesabroad.
• FranceisthefourthmostpopulardestinationforU.S.studyabroadstudents,with17,597students reportedbyOpenDoors in2013-2014.
• CollegesandUniversitiesfocusonemotionalandphysicalsafetyofstudentsinParisduringthetimeofextremeuncertainty.
Overview
TerrorismTerrorism’sessenceisthecreationofpervasive,unrelentingfear.
• Wearefarmorelikelytodieincarcrashesforexample,thanfromactsofterrorism.
• Terrorismorthefearof,cancausesustainedemotionalandbehavioralconsequences.
Terrorismstealsoursenseofagency.
• Ourdailylivesandthebeliefinourabilitytofunctionisdisrupted.
• Thisinducesavarietyofimmediateemotionalreactionsandpsychiatricstressphenomena:
– Panic– Severeanxiety– Depressedmood
Dr. Suzanne A. Black, Psy.D.Clinical Psychologist
Tiedtotheperception:
– “Limitedopportunity forescape.“– “Riskofbeinghurtorkilledishigh.”
Hallmarksofpanic:
– Acutefear– Extremehypervigilance– Highanxiety
.
Panic
.
Panicmaycause:
• Posttraumaticstressdisorder• Depression• Generalizedanxiety
*Pre-existingpsychiatricconditionscanalsobeexacerbatedbyexposuretotrauma.
SupportforStudents
Studentscanreducesubjectivefearbybecomingpartners inthemonitoringandmanagementofrisk. Students willbere-assuredthat itisnormalforpeopletofeeltraumatizedundersuchcircumstances.
• Practicalinformationabout personalsafety• General,“common-sense” adviceaboutmanagingbothrealriskandsubjectivefear• Awarenessofpsychologicalfactorsinvolved• Automatedinformationline• Asystemofnotificationprotocols suchasuse ofsocialmedia,email,SMS, instantmessaging,
telephone treesanddesignationofprogrampersonnelresponsibleforbeingavailable 24/7 toanswerquestions andprovideresources.
• Buddysystem
.
PsychologicalSupportforStudents
Studentsmayfeel embarrassed bytheir emotional reactions totrauma;
• Implement plans andprotocols for acutemanagement of both risk andfear.• Administer psychological “firstaid” toreduce theinitial traumaticstress reaction
causedby thecrisis event.• Assess the need forfurther intervention, e.g.,referralforthose in inneedofacute
caretomental health professionals.
• Encourage students totalkabout theirfeelings andthoughts related tothetrauma.
*Expressing stresslegitimizes, i.e., "normalizes" theexperience inreaction tothetraumatic eventwhich cancreateachain reaction among students ofreducing shameand fear.
SignsofHeightenedDifficulty
• Anxiety• Fear• Panic• Sadnessordepression• Nightmares• Sleepdifficulties• Somnolenceduringclass• Appetitechanges• Noticeableweightgainorweightloss
• Unkempt appearance• Absencefromclass• Restlessnessandagitation• Somaticsymptoms• Appearing"out ofit"• Socialwithdrawal• Uncharacteristicangeror
belligerence• Violentbehavior• Substanceuse
*AlertnesstosymptomsnecessarytointerveneearlyandtoheadoffthedevelopmentofPTSD.
Institutional Model
• NYUhasthreedegree-grantingcampuses,and11globalacademiccenters
• NYUstudents fromthethreedegree-grantingcampusesmakeuptheoverwhelmingmajorityofthosestudyingatitsglobalacademiccenters
• Atmostglobalsites,NYUeithermaintainsitsownresidencehalls,orleasesroomsfromlocalproviders.AsmallminorityofNYUstudyawaystudents liveinexternalhousing.
• Students studyatNYU-operatedacademiccenters,andaretaughtbyfacultythatareappointed inpartnershipwithdepartmentsatitsNewYorkcampus.
• NYUhaswellnesscounselorsonstaffatmostsites(includingParis),andallthreecampuses.
Immediate Response (First 24 Hours)
• Toppriority:Trackingstudents– accountedforallstudentswithin12hours
– NYUhadmorethan200studentsinParisatthetimeofthe2015attacks.– TheUniversitycollaboratedonashareddocumentcontainingstudentroster,dividingthat
listupbetweenstaffinParisandNY.– ForstudentsinoneofNYU’stworesidencehalls,staffwassentdoor-to-doortoconfirm
studentsweresafe.– NYUstafftookleadonhandlingincomingparentcalls,toensureParis-basedstaffcould
focusonstudents.– NYUSearchedsocialmediaforpostsfromstudentswhohadnotyetbeencontacted.– Sentoutinitialcommunicationstostudentsandfamilies
• ContactedNYU’sotherEuropeansitestoidentifystudentswhomightbevisitingParis.
• ContactedallNYUandvisitingacademicandstudyabroadadvisorstoprovideupdates,ensuringtheytoocouldrespondtoincomingparentinquiries.
DecisionPoints,Risk&FearManagement(1-5DaysLater)• Support AvailableforStudents:
– On-sitecounseling– 24/7counselingsupport,viaNYU’sWellnessExchangehotline.– AnadditionalcounselorfromNewYork’sStudentHealthCentertraveledtoParistoassist.
• AdayofprogrammingwasheldattheacademiccenteronthefollowingMonday,togetstudents outoftheirresidencehallsandapartments,andtoprovidethemwithaforumtoengagewithoneanotherandwithNYUParisstaff.
• Classesresumed onTuesday.• AnadministratorfromNYU’sGlobalProgramsOfficeinNewYorktraveledto
Paristoprovideadditionalsupport toParis-basedfacultyandstaff.• Continued e-mailcommunicationstostudents andfamilies
The“NewNormal”(5-10DaysLater)
• AhandfulofstudentsexpressedconcernsthatitwastoosoontoreturntoclassesonTuesday.TheUniversityexplainedthatareturntonormalcywasacriticalpartofthehealingprocess.
• DespitetheresourcesprovidedasmallgroupofstudentsfeltuncomfortableremaininginParis;NYUworkedwiththesestudentstodevelopindividualstudyplansthatenabledthemtocompletetheirsemesters.
InstitutionalModel
• Studyabroad=decentralized• Globalsafetyandsecurity=centralized• Internationalprogramtypes• Exposure:82totalundergraduatesinParis:
– 50studentsparticipatinginNUprograms– 11exchangestudents– 21studentsparticipatinginaffiliatedprogramsofferedby3third-partyproviders
– 6studentsatstadium;3studentsnearLePetitCambodge
ImmediateResponse (First24Hours)• Trackingstudents
– Complicationsofdecentralization,multipleprograms,andcoordination• Communicationsplan
– EmergencyAlert(website)– Identicalemailstostudents inParisand theirfamilies:Focusingon
accountingforstudents, safety/security information,NU’sapproachtoemergenciesabroadandresources
– Emailstootherstudents potentiallyaffected;prioritybasedonlevelofexposure(Paris>France>Europe)
– Engagingthehealthinsurance/securityassistanceprovider– On-campusCounselingandPsychologicalServices(CAPS)
• Lessons learned– Haveaplan,butprepareforittobeincomplete– Technologyandinformationmanagement– Templates
DecisionPoints,Risk&FearManagement(1-5DaysLater)• Supporting students
– Returningtoa“safe”space>ReturningtoParis>Returningtotheprogram– Individuals:
• Privateprofessionalcounseling• Individualfacultymeetings• Otherneeds/triggers
– Group:• Groupcounselingsession#1(hosted atstudent dorm)• ForNUprograms: Processingtimeinclass
• Supporting on-sitefacultyandstaff– Informationsharing:security,academicarrangements,mentalhealth
resources(conferencecallswithDr.Black)– VisitbyNUVicePresidentforInternationalRelations
• CommunicationPlan:– Identicalemailstostudents inParisandtheirfamilies1,3,and5dayslater:
Focus isonsecurityupdates,availableprogramsupport,counselingoptions,visitofNUinstitutional representative,academicconsiderationsandarrangements• Messagesbecomemoredetailedasarrangementsareconfirmed• SpecialstatementbyDirectorofCAPS
– Emailstootherstudyabroadstudents (outsideEurope)1daylater– NotificationstoNUcommunity
• Lessons learned– Time– Counselingrequests(traumaspecialization,degree,group>individual)– Self-care
DecisionPoints,Risk&FearManagement,cont(1-5 Days Later)
The“NewNormal”(5-10DaysLater)• Supporting students
– Returning toclass >Returning tolife(traveling home fortheThanksgiving holiday)– Individuals:
• Private, professional counseling• MeetingwiththeNUVPforInternational Relations
– Group:• Group counseling session #2(hosted bypartnerUniversity)• ForNUprograms: Group (re)negotiation of final deliverables
• Communications Plan– Emails tostudents inEurope: Focus ontravelsafety, reminders aboutNUapproach torisk
management, counseling services andresources– Communication withfamilies on anindividual basis
• Lessons Learned– Trauma+Academic anxiety=Requests forincompletes– Thanksgiving returns (2students onaffiliated programs, 1onNUprogram)– After-Thanksgiving returns (1on affiliatedprogram inItaly)
Questions?
Top Related