The Institute for Disaster Mental Health holds annual conference on crisis communication

Registration is now open for the 11th annual Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH) conference, “Why Don’t People Listen? The Whole Community and Communicating in a Crisis,” to be held Friday, April 25, on the SUNY New Paltz Campus. This year’s event will examine one of the most puzzling questions emergency responders face: Why is it so difficult to convince some people to take protective actions that could prevent them from experiencing harm in a disaster or crisis?

“We hope this conference will kick off the second decade of Institute for Disaster Mental Health events that bring together emergency response professionals, mental health providers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement personnel, and students preparing for careers in these areas, to learn real skills from experts in the field,” said Dr. Karla Vermeulen, acting director of IDMH.

Interest in this topic emerged from the 2013 IDMH conference which focused on responding to radiological events. “So many of the presenters at last year’s event emphasized the critical importance of clear messaging to protect people from harm, and recent technological developments like the rise of social media make it seem like communicating with the public should be easier than ever,” said Vermeulen. “However, access to more information doesn’t necessarily lead to better decisions, especially when people receive conflicting or sensationalized messages.”

Compounding this information overload, people often have valid reasons for not taking action, such as financial restrictions, a history of false alarms, or a mistrust of authorities. The response community faces great challenges in making sure their official information can cut through the competition and be perceived as credible and the stakes are high, said Vermeulen. “When people don’t heed warnings and they experience harm as a result, they often feel tremendous guilt and shame in addition to their physical losses,” she said. “What could be worse than knowing you might have prevented a loved one’s suffering if you had only followed the advice you were given?”

To determine how to prevent this outcome, conference presenters will explore various aspects of communicating effectively throughout the disaster cycle. Richard Serino, who recently retired as deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will discuss the role of government in preparedness and the whole community approach to resilience. Eric Klinenberg, Ph.D., professor of sociology at New York University and author of “Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago,” will address superstorms, climate change, the future of cities, and how human factors like social infrastructure shape reactions to disasters. Wendy Harman, director of social strategy at the American Red Cross, will focus on the strengths and limitations of social media in disasters, including the Red Cross’ evolving strategies for using technology to optimize disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Lou McNally, Ph.D., research assistant professor at the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine at Orono and assistant professor of applied aviation sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, will discuss the mass media’s role in communicating in crisis – and how many media outlets’ tendency towards sensationalized reporting undermines their credibility and value as an information resource for the public.

The conference will open with remarks from SUNY New Paltz President Donald Christian, Congressman Chris Gibson, and Commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Jerome Hauer, Ph.D.

Afternoon workshops will enable participants to hone their own communications plans. Full program details, presenter biographies, and registration information for this event, which is being sponsored by Campus Auxiliary Services, The Bookstore at New Paltz, and the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, are available at www.newpaltz.edu/idmh/conference.html.