PsyPAG Subcommittees

Disaster Mental Health Committee
The function of this subcommittee is to provide education, training and consultation on issues related to disaster mental health to fellow psychologists, other providers and OFRD.

Readiness Committee
The PsyPAG Readiness Committee serves to ensure that members of PsyPAG meet basic readiness requirements as defined by OFRD.

Guiding Principles (It is helpful to keep these points in mind when preparing for or responding to a disaster.)

• No one who experiences a disaster is untouched by it.
• Most people pull together and function during and after a disaster, but their effectiveness is diminished.
• Mental health concerns exist in most aspects of preparedness, response and recovery.
• Disaster stress and grief reactions are “normal responses to an abnormal situation.”
• Survivors respond to active, genuine interest and concern.
• Disaster mental health assistance is often more practical than psychological in nature (offering a phone, distributing coffee, listening, encouraging, reassuring, comforting).
• Disaster relief assistance may be confusing to disaster survivors. They may experience frustration, anger, and feelings of helplessness related to Federal, State, and non-profit agencies’ disaster assistance programs. They may reject disaster assistance of all types.

Recruitment and Retention
Members of the recruitment and retention committee provide leadership on activities designed to grow the presence of PHS Psychologists. They further serve on the PsyPAG Mentorship Project working OCCO, psychology applicants and new psychologists. Committee members also work to support the development and retention of all PHS Psychologist.