A case for using biologically-based mental health intervention in post-earthquake china: evaluation of training in...

Catastrophic events, such as the Sichuan Province earthquake in China on May 12, 2008, cause massive suffering. They put a huge strain on local response capacities because of distress of the civilian population and also death and traumatization of local responders. Mental health approaches are needed that are efficient and that help provide stabilization to both responders and civilians. The article has two goals: First, to present a rationale for the use of a biologically-based model of mental health, the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), in post-disaster settings and, second, to present evaluation results of TRM training, mental health training focused on the biology of threat and fear with corresponding treatment skills provided as part of the China Earthquake Relief Project (CHERP). TRM training was provided to a non-random sample of more than 350 doctors, nurses, teachers, and counselors during a 18 month period after the earthquake. TRM training was provided in six cities to expand local response capacity by providing didactic sessions and practice in TRM's trauma treatment skills. CHERP's focus on acquisition of practical treatment skills and local sustainability provided TRM skills refresher training sessions over the entire course of the project. The Training Relevance, Use, and Satisfaction Scale (TRUSS) and the Training Evaluation Form (TEF) were used throughout the months of training and supervised practice. Results indicate 97% believe that biologically-oriented TRM training will be very to moderately relevant or useful for their work with the Chinese earthquake survivors, and about 88% report they will use the skills very to moderately frequently during the two weeks following the training. Over 60% of the trainees report they will use TRM skills for their own self-care.