On May 11, 2022, the AMA held a webinar in the AMA STEPS Forward® series: “Protecting Mental Health in Disasters: COVID-19 and Beyond.”
COVID-19 is the most far-reaching and long-lasting disaster in generations, with a long "tail" of expected mental health effects impacting patients, providers and their families. Understanding the range of mental health effects and aspects of risk and resilience are critical to effective response and recovery.
Speaker Joshua C. Morganstein, MD, CAPT, discusses how the use of evidence-based early interventions by individuals, organizations and leaders can reduce distress, foster resilience, enhance operational sustainment and help treat psychiatric disorders that may emerge. Read a related article on the subject.
Webinar recording
Speaker
Speaker: Joshua C. Morganstein, MD, CAPT
Bio: Dr. Joshua C. Morganstein is associate professor and vice chair in the Department of Psychiatry and Deputy Director at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) in the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a Captain in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. He received his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He completed a combined residency in Psychiatry and Family Medicine in the National Capital Consortium in Washington, DC.
He has been invited by numerous state health care organizations, medical professional organizations, interagency teams and global partners to inform healthcare system leaders and personnel on critical public mental health principles and the adaptation of practices and procedures from high-stress occupations to help promote well-being and operational sustainment during the global pandemic.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
With an increased number of people reporting worsening mental health in recent years, it is imperative that people are aware of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) telephone program.
People experiencing a suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress can call, chat or text 988, and speak to trained crisis counselors. The national hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The previous National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will continue to be operational and route calls to 988 indefinitely.
