A Different Type of Disaster: A Rural NSW Case Study
Tracks
Ballroom 3
| Wednesday, October 17, 2018 |
| 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM |
Speaker
Ms Alison Thorne
District Community MHDA Manager
Murrumbidgee Local Health District
A Different Type of Disaster: A Rural NSW Case Study
Abstracts
The death of five members of the same family in a murder suicide was a tragedy for a small Riverina community. While not necessarily fitting within the usual definition of a disaster like fire or flood, the incident nevertheless required local Mental Health services to provide a disaster response to assist with community recovery.
Mental Health responses to such events require a response that is based on the best available evidence. Each disaster event presents unique challenges and requires a flexible, coordinated response tailored to the circumstances.
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District comprises an area of 125,561 square kilometres and includes the cities of Wagga Wagga and Griffith and the surrounding rural localities. The District itself has a population of 238,214. The main town affected by the tragedy has a population of 800. This town is located 60 km from Wagga Wagga the main service centre.
This paper will describe the process and the challenges experienced in providing a disaster Mental Health response to this community and will discuss the response that was provided by Murrumbidgee LHD Community Mental Health Services at each stage of the recovery. A response that continues even now, almost 4 years on from the event.
Key Learnings:
1. What is a MH Disaster?
2. Importance of planning in Disaster Mental Health response
3. Unique approach required due to rural locality
Mental Health responses to such events require a response that is based on the best available evidence. Each disaster event presents unique challenges and requires a flexible, coordinated response tailored to the circumstances.
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District comprises an area of 125,561 square kilometres and includes the cities of Wagga Wagga and Griffith and the surrounding rural localities. The District itself has a population of 238,214. The main town affected by the tragedy has a population of 800. This town is located 60 km from Wagga Wagga the main service centre.
This paper will describe the process and the challenges experienced in providing a disaster Mental Health response to this community and will discuss the response that was provided by Murrumbidgee LHD Community Mental Health Services at each stage of the recovery. A response that continues even now, almost 4 years on from the event.
Key Learnings:
1. What is a MH Disaster?
2. Importance of planning in Disaster Mental Health response
3. Unique approach required due to rural locality
Biography
Alison Thorne is a Registered Nurse who has lived and worked in Murrumbidgee for the past 12 years. Schooled locally in Cootamundra and later moving to Sydney to complete University and her early nursing career.
Since 1995 she has lived and worked in outback and rural NSW in a variety of nursing roles . Alison is passionate about the delivery of quality health care to rural and remote communities.
Alison is currently the District Community Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Manager for Murrumbidgee Local Health District, a busy and challenging role that she has enjoyed for the past 6 years.
Ms Helen Sheather
Coordinator Family Friendly Mental Health Strategy
Murrumbidgee Local Health District
A Different Type of Disaster: A Rural NSW Case Study (CO-PRESENTER)
Abstracts
See Alison Thorne
Biography
Helen Sheather – Coordinator, Family Friendly Mental Health Services Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) Helen is Registered Nurse with an extensive background in Paediatric Nursing, Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Until recently Helen was a Coordinator for the the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) across the Murrumbidgee Local Health District. This role provided many opportunities for working creatively in partnership with communities to address the mental health needs arising from their individual and whole of community experiences with adversity. Helen has lived in rural areas for most of her life and understands the diverse issues facing rural communities. She has a wealth of experience working collaborating with diverse stakeholders developing mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention initiatives and providing mental health education to all members of the community. Helen has also worked in partnership with communities recovering from many types of traumas and disasters. Currently residing in Albury with her partner Troy, Helen is now the Coordinator, Family Friendly Mental Health Services for the MLHD.
*Program is subject to change
