The UF IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center) is helping equip extension agents and others active in disaster response to address the unique mental health needs of the agriculture and natural resource sectors during a disaster.
The PIE Center and its partner program the Florida Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) worked with the Florida State Agriculture Response Team (SART) and the University of Florida Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences (UF FYCS) to develop and supply a free, self-paced online training on Disasters & Mental Health.
Angie Lindsey, UF FYCS assistant professor and PIE Center affiliate faculty member led the project, working with Heidi Radunovich, FYCS assistant professor and licensed clinical psychologist, to develop the curriculum based upon earlier SART-funded training sessions provided by Lindsey and Radunovich.
“After hurricanes Irma and Michael, we received numerous requests from extension agents who recognized mental health impacts in their communities and did not know how to help,” Lindsey said. “The success of previous in-person workshops and requests to bring the training to other areas has shown us this is a needed resource, and the new online curriculum will make it accessible to a much wider audience.”
The training takes about two-and-a half hours to complete, and it is divided into four modules: Disaster Stress & Mental Health, Community Recovery After Disasters, Coping & Providing Support After Disasters, and Disaster Stress & Mental Health Resources.
Each module includes a presentation designed by PIE Center staff with material developed and narrated by Drs. Lindsey and Radunovich. Training participants will also partake in mini quizzes and several real-life case study activities developed by the PIE Center.
“For anyone active in response after disasters, it is critical we equip them with the tools to recognize the signs of mental stress in those they are helping, but also in themselves as responders,” Lindsey said. “When our responders are able to apply coping strategies, seek out more resources and empower others to do the same, we are better able to safeguard mental and physical well-being in our communities.”
This project is sponsored by the Florida State Agricultural Response Team. The training can be accessed at http://e-learning.ag/courses/disasters-mental-health/.
