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Volume 20 International Journal of Emergency Mental
Health and Human Resilience
ISSN: 1522-4821
Mental Health 2018
April 26-27, 2018
April 26-27, 2018 | Rome, Italy
4th International Conference on
Mental Health and Human Resilience
Effectiveness of art-based interventions in reducing stress amongmental health professionals working
in a shared war reality
Dorit Segal-Engelchin, Orly Sarid, Efrat Huss and Richard Isralowitz
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Statement of the Problem: Mental health professionals (MHPs) are among the first responders to address the needs of
traumatized people following exposure to terrorist attacks and war-related stressors. In Southern Israel, MHPs encounter a
double exposure to war-related trauma as community members and professionals providing service to terror victims. Research
on MHPs exposed to a shared war reality show that they are subject to increased emotional pressure, family conflict and
an increased risk for PTSD and vicarious symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an art-based
intervention in reducing stress among Israeli MHPs who shared war-related stress with their clients during operation protective
edge.
Methodology: The art-based intervention included drawing pictures that were later shared in small groups related to three
topics: emotions and thoughts related to the war situation; resources that may help them cope with the war-related stressors
and; integration of the stressful image and the resource picture. To examine the intervention effect, the Subjective Units of
Distress (SUDs) values of 47 MHPs were measured using a pre-post design.
Findings: The study results indicate that MPHs' initial stress levels significantly decreased on completion of the intervention.
Conclusion & Significance: The study results show the efficacy of an easily implemented art-based tool for stress reduction
among MHPs operating in shared war conditions. Implications for future research and for interventions designed for MHPs
operating in additional shared disasters will be discussed.
Recent Publications
1. Baum N (2014) Professionals’ double exposure in the shared traumatic reality of wartime: Contributions to professional
growth and stress. Brit J Soc Work 44(8):2113–34.
2. Boscherino A J, Figley R C and Adams E R (2004) Compassion fatigue following the September 11 terrorist attack: a
study of secondary trauma among New York city social workers. Int J Emerg Ment Health 6(2):57–66.
3. Craig C D, Sprang G (2010) Compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout in a national sample of trauma
treatment therapists. Anxiety Stress Coping 23(3):319-39.
4. Finklestein M, Stein E, Greene T, Bronstein I and Solomon Z (2015) Posttraumatic stress disorder and vicarious trauma
in mental health professionals. Health Soc Work 40(2): e25-e31.
5. Huss E, Sarid O and Cwikel J (2010) Using art as a self-regulating tool in a war situation: A model for social workers.
Health Soc Wor. 35(3):201-209.
Biography
Dorit Segal-Engelchin is an Associate Professor. She is the Head of Spitzer department of Social Work and Co-director of the Center for Women’s Health Studies and
Promotion, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev. Her research interests include “Diverse aspects of women's health and well-being, stress and coping, and evaluation of
art-based interventions designed to reduce stress among people exposed to disasters”.
Dorit Segal-Engelchin et al., Int J Emerg Ment Health 2018, Volume 20
DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821-C1-011