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Chapter 40 - Consequences for the Mental Health of Families of Responders to Pandemics, Major Incidents, and Emergencies

from Section 5 - Sustaining and Caring for Staff During Emergencies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2024

Richard Williams
Affiliation:
University of South Wales
Verity Kemp
Affiliation:
Independent Health Emergency Planning Consultant
Keith Porter
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham
Tim Healing
Affiliation:
Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London
John Drury
Affiliation:
University of Sussex
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Summary

Responders in the UK attend a range of emergencies, incidents, disasters, and disease outbreaks (EIDD). Although the impacts on professional responders have been researched, documented, and are reasonably well understood, the consequences of that exposure to such incidents for their families is relatively underexplored. This chapter identifies the links between the wellbeing of families of responders and the impacts from the occupation of their emergency service family members. The support given by family members is explored in the context of social support, diffusing, and managing mental health. This is informed by empirically evidenced research projects detailing the occupational consequences for the families of responders through literature and national project work.

Type
Chapter
Information
Major Incidents, Pandemics and Mental Health
The Psychosocial Aspects of Health Emergencies, Incidents, Disasters and Disease Outbreaks
, pp. 293 - 300
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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