Psychosocial Emergency Response Team Perception of Preparedness and Response

Background: Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the Government of Canada announced the Public Security and AntiTerrorism (PSAT) Response Initiative. With funding from PSAT, Health Canada's Employee Assistance Service Bureau assembled a cohort national psychosocial emergency response team (PSERT) with the mandate to provide psychosocial support, before, during, and after a terrorist or disaster event to federal employees, managers, and responders. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of a psychosocial emergency response team (PSERT) during their mobilization to provide disaster mental health services to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This study explored factors that could support team functioning and effectiveness in relation to pre-and postmobilization during disasters and/or mass emergencies. This team is unique in a number of ways. The 2010 Winter Olympics provided the opportunity to explore the lived experience of a PSERT in relation to the preparedness (readiness) and their perception of preparedness and response to this global event with all the inherent dangers from man-made and natural disasters.