CopShock: Second Edition
Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
by Allen R. Kates, MFAW, BCECR
PTSD, Trauma Research and Referral
The following organizations and references
will help you in researching PTSD and trauma.
American Academy of Experts in Traumatic
Stress (AAETS)
National Center for Crisis Management
(NCCM)
The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress,
in collaboration with the National Center for Crisis Management, are
multidisciplinary networks of professionals who are committed to the advancement
of intervention for survivors of traumatic events and crisis situations. The
Academy and the Center aim to identify expertise among professionals, across
disciplines, and provide meaningful standards for those who work regularly with
survivors and crisis situations. The Academy's and Center’s Traumatic Stress and
Crisis Management Library provide publications and practical information for
survivors of traumatic events and crisis situations and for professionals who
address their needs.
The Academy’s and the Center’s international
membership include individuals from over 200 professions in the health-related
fields, emergency services, criminal justice, forensics, law and education.
Members have joined these organizations from every U. S. state and from over
fifty-eight foreign countries.
AAETS and NCCM provide a standard for
those who regularly work with survivors, and have developed certification
programs in several specialty areas. The Academy’s and Center’s official
membership directory and referral network may be accessed through their
Professional Directory on their websites.
Go to: http://www.aaets.org. or http://www.nc-cm.org. Write: AAETS/NCCM, Administrative Offices, 368 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack, NY 11725. Phone: 631-543-2217.
Australasian Society for
Traumatic Stress Studies (ASTSS)
With chapters in every
Australian state, the ASTSS is a body of professionals, researchers and
survivors who promotes the advancement of knowledge about the nature,
consequences and treatment of reactions to highly stressful experiences. The
website provides a description of the Society’s activities.
Go to:
http://www.astss.org.au. Write:
ASTSS, PO Box 6227, Halifax St, South Australia. E-mail: davidk@
victimsa.org.
Canadian Traumatic Stress
Network (CTSN)
(Reseau Canadien Du Stress Traumatique). The
CTSN is a Canadian network for people involved in some way with traumatic
stress. Its mission is to provide resources for education, training, public
awareness, and research and professional development, as well as to foster
communication among those affected by traumatic stress, those alleviating it,
and those studying it.
Go to: http://www.ctsn-rcst.ca. Write:
David S. Hart, Ph.D., ECPS, Education Faculty, University of British Columbia,
2125 Main Mall Vancouver, BC, Canada. david.hart@ubc.ca Phone:
866-288-2876.
CopShock
Video
On July 17, 2001, the A&E Television Network
broadcast a program based on the book CopShock. Titled “Cop
Counselors,” it shows the effects of trauma on police officers involved in
shootings and the day-to-day stress of the job. It discusses the emotional and
psychological impact on police officers, including suicide, and what some police
therapists are doing to try to alleviate the pain. The video is often shown in
police academies, peer support groups and law enforcement college courses. The
program was part of the Investigative Reports series hosted by Bill Kurtis, and
features interview pieces with the author of CopShock.
Go to: http://store.aetv.com. Enter “Cop
Counselors” in the search box. Item number is AAE-73422, 50 minutes.
CopShock
Website
Among other things, the CopShock website
features an article describing one of the few successful PTSD-based lawsuits
filed by a police officer against a police department and health care
organization in the United States (See Support). In addition, the website features over 225 support sources for trauma sufferers.
Go to: http://www.copshock.com
Dart Center for Journalism and
Trauma
At the top of the Dart Center’s website, it declares
that it is “A global resource for journalists who cover violence,” and its
pur-pose is to improve media coverage of trauma, conflict and tragedy.
The
Center also addresses the consequences of such coverage for those working in
journalism. This is a valuable resource not only for journalists in the
traditional media, but also for police (officer) journalists who often cover
violent stories. Police journalists suffer emotionally and psychologically from
seeing so much violence, and this website offers them an opportunity to learn
about themselves and how to combat PTSD, trauma, and other stress
illnesses.
Go to: http://www.dartcenter.org. Write: Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, Department of Communication, 102 Communications Building, PO Box 353740, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. Phone: Toll-free 800-332-0565. 206-616-3223.
The Dart Center is also located in Europe and Australia. In London, write: Dart Centre for Journalism & Trauma, 13 Norfolk Place, London W2 1Q1, UK. Phone: +44 20-8123-3549. The phone number for Melbourne, Australia, is: +61 (0) 419131947.
David Baldwin’s Trauma
Information Pages
Psychologist David V. Baldwin’s trauma site
provides an enormous amount of information and resources. He defines
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Secondary Traumatization and discusses different
treatment approaches including reexperiencing/resolving traumatic experiences
and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
He provides information on trauma organizations and e-mail discussion groups. The Trauma Pages also include selected articles from professional journals on traumatic stress, references on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) and EMDR, and supportive links to many other websites.
A visit to this site is a must for everyone, whether police, civilian, or war veteran who suffers from trauma or lives with someone who does.
Go to: http://www.trauma-pages.com. If you live in Eugene, Oregon, phone Dr. Baldwin at: 541-686-2598. Otherwise, e-mail is best: dvb@trauma-pages.com.
European Society for Traumatic
Stress Studies (ESTSS)
ESTSS promotes the exchange of
research and knowledge about the effects of traumatic stress and the application
of this knowledge base into clinical practice and social policy. Represent-ed in
this organization are members from all across Europe.
Go to: http://www.estss.org. Write: ESTSS
secretariat, Churchilllaan 11, 3527 GV Utrecht, The Netherlands. Telephone: +31
(0)30 – 2968000.
Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a proven method of
psychotherapy that helps many survivors of traumatic events including police
officers. Trials and studies have shown its effectiveness in resolving single
and multiple traumas. On the website for the EMDR Institute, Dr. Francine
Shapiro, creator of EMDR, describes its process and offers information on
qualified clinicians.
Go to: http://www.emdr.com.
Write: EMDR Institute, Inc., PO Box 750, Watsonville, CA 95077. Phone:
831-761-1204.
Therapist David Grand practices EMDR in New York
state. I’ve talked with several of his clients including police officers who
found relief from PTSD symptoms after several EMDR sessions. David’s website
describes his process. Among other things, his website also provides information
on audio tapes and CDs about the work he does.
Go to: http://www.biolateral.com. Write:
David Grand, 2415 Jerusalem Avenue, Suite 105, Bellmore, NY 11710. Phone:
516-826-7996.
Gift From
Within
Gift From Within is an international nonprofit
organization dedicated to those who suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD), those at risk for PTSD, and those who care for traumatized individuals.
This site features a number of well written and informative articles on PTSD and
related topics (grief, recovery from motor vehicle accidents, school trauma and
police and emergency rescue trauma), plus a peer support network, coping and
inspirational stories, a list of retreats for survivors, support groups, and
educational videos, books and other resources.
Go to: http://giftfromwithin.org. Write:
Gift from Within, 16 Cobb Hill Rd., Camden, Maine 04843. Phone:
207-236-8858.
International Society for
Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)
The ISTSS provides a forum
for sharing theory, research, clinical interventions, and public policy related
to the consequences of traumatic stress in the U.S. and around the globe. It
publishes The Journal of Traumatic Stress, accessible on the website.
Go
to: http://www.istss.org. Write: ISTSS,
60 Revere Drive, Suite 500, Northbrook, IL 60062. Phone:
847-480-9028.
Internet Mental
Health
This website features American and European
interpretations of disorders and describes medications, treatments and causes
for an extensive list of problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, depression,
panic attacks and PTSD. The website also offers online diagnosis.
Go to:
http://www.mentalhealth.com.
MentalHelp.Net
With articles, news, book
reviews, self-help resources, and much more, Mental Help Net’s purpose is to
educate the public about mental health and wellness. Run by clinical
psychologists, the information is accurate and up-to-date on many subjects such
as PTSD, depression, eating disorders, panic disorder and their
treatments.
Go to: http://www.mentalhealth.net. To contact them, please use their online form.
National Center for
PTSD
The National Center for PTSD’s website contains a
remarkable amount of information and resources for both professional and
nonprofessional readers. The Center conducts research into PTSD, trains VA
clinicians, and provides information on PTSD to veterans and their families,
researchers, clinicians, and members of the public.
The website’s most
notable feature is its “PILOTS” database, an electronic worldwide index to
thousands of publications on PTSD, with citations and abstracts. There is no
charge for using the database, and no account or password is required. Although
The National Center for PTSD is a program of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs, the PILOTS database is not limited to literature on PTSD among
veterans, but includes information on everyone affected by PTSD, including law
enforcement officers.
Go to: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp. or to: http:// www.ncptsd.org. E-mail:
ncptsd@va.gov. Phone: the PTSD
Infor-mation Line at 802 296-6300 or at 802-296-5132.
If you are in need
of immediate crisis counseling, please contact VA’s suicide hotline at
1-800-273-TALK; counselors are available 24/7 to help.
NetWellness
Created and evaluated by health
care professionals at the University of Cincinnati, Case Western Reserve
University and the Ohio State University, NetWellness offers the world’s largest
base of medical experts who provide online consumer health information. Although
slanted toward physical illness, the site provides access to thousands of
publications that describe the latest research on PTSD, stress and trauma.
Because psych-ological trauma may provoke physical afflictions, this site offers
advice on trauma’s effects on the body.
The “Ask An Expert” section
features pharmacists, nurses, physicians and other health professionals who
provide answers to users’ health questions.
Go to: http://www.netwellness.org. Write:
NetWellness, 231 Albert Sabin Way, PO Box 670574, University of Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, OH 45267. Phone: 513-558-8766.
Sidran
Foundation
Named for its founding donor, Texas philanthropist
Kate Sidran, the Sidran Foundation is a national, nonprofit, charitable
organization devoted to education, advocacy and research to benefit people
suffering from trauma.
To support people with trauma-generated disorders
and to educate the public about them, the Sidran Foundation has developed a
number of resources including books, a catalog of the best in trauma
literature and videos, a database of therapists, a
low-cost clinic and a
fund for research.
Go to http://www.sidran.org. Write: Esther Giller, President and Director, The Sidran Foundation, 200 East Joppa Road, Suite 207, Baltimore, MD 21286. For ordering literature, call: 410-825-8888 or toll-free 888-825-8249.
See also: Counseling
For more
research and referral sources.