Trauma Database Links Agencies, Psychiatrists
Ever since the events of last September 11, individuals inside and outside of the mental health field have acknowledged that the attacks on the World Trade Center triggered an upsurge in the number of people who want to contact a psychiatrist or mental health professional for treatment or consultation.
An organization established in the months following the attacks has taken on the mission of making sure that agencies seeking psychiatrists and mental health professionals have a resource that can provide them with the experts they need.
Jack Drescher, M.D., is a member of the board of directors of the Trauma Response Database.
Drescher pointed out that the database is not a referral service and not designed to provide treatment services to individuals. The not-for-profit organization is instead an information resource for the agencies to which these individuals have turned for mental health counseling, treatment, or advice. It can be searched by service and volunteer organizations, employee-assistance programs, clergy, clinicians, and hospital personnel.
Drescher noted that Trauma Response Database’s founder and president, Todd Essig, Ph.D., is a consultant to the New York County District Branch’s Disaster Task Force. This project “is a wonderful example of an interdisciplinary effort that has done some good in the short term after 9/11,” Drescher said, “and it has the potential for allowing private practitioners to remain involved in the growing mental health needs of our metropolitan area.”
By mid-August, Essig told Psychiatric News, Trauma Response Database had filled more than 200 requests for service.
Information about the project, including how psychiatrists can enroll, is posted on the Web at www.traumaresponse.org. ▪
