The establishment of the Psychosocial Section was approved by the WADEM Board of Directors in March 2012.
Vision
To increase the role of psychosocial/disaster mental health specialists in responding to and providing support across the different phases of a disaster.
Mission
To pursue didactic, research, policy, and operational excellence in international disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, including the prevention and mitigation of psychosocial stress, and the promotion of resilience.
Objectives
The objectives of the Psychosocial Section are to:
- Disseminate throughout the international disaster-related professional community empirically derived "best practices" and "lessons learned" by means of workshops and conference presentations;
- Increase the presence and activities of psychosocial/disaster mental health specialists in disaster preparedness and response through their inclusion in existing and newly developed response networks;
- Strengthen the research as well as intervention skills of psychosocial/disaster mental health specialists through enhanced academic courses and practical training;
- Promote greater involvement in national and international committees while identified as a WADEM representative.
Membership
Any member in good standing of WADEM with expertise or interest in the psychosocial aspects of disasters is eligible to join the section. There are no section dues.
Officer Elections and Term of Office
Nominations for the positions of Chair, Chair-elect, and Secretary will open on 1 January of years associated with a meeting of the Congress of the WADEM. All nominees must be members in good standing of WADEM and the Section. The Nominating Committee will present the slate of nominees to the general membership of the section to vote for the respective candidates via electronic ballot. The newly elected officers will then be installed at a Section meeting during the WADEM Congress. All elected officers of the Section will hold office for a two-year term, with the possibility of serving one additional term.
Information Dissemination
Section members are strongly encouraged to send to the Section Officers psychosocial documents developed by your regional/national groups for inclusion on the links below.
Officer Contacts
Co-Chair: Gloria Leon, PhD 
| Biographical Sketch
Co-Chair: James Shultz, PhD | Biographical Sketch
Secretary: Heleen Sandvik | Biographical Sketch
Document Links
Action Timeline for Psychosocial Responders
Children in Disasters Report
Declaration of Psychosocial Rights
Disaster Behavioral Health Core Competencies
Disaster Psychosocial Competencies Overview
Disaster Psychosocial Services Competency Matrices
