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Mental health problems are now the leading cause of disability in the United States destroying relationships, families, and organizations. Overwhelming traumatic events cost hundreds of billions of dollars a year, owing to health care claims, workers' compensation, absenteeism, employee turnover, productivity losses, and other direct and indirect costs. 

 

Dr. Lerner's Emotional Wellness workshops and presentations, CRISISstream, and SESSIONS with DR. MARK LERNER™, inform and inspire diverse audiences. His timely on-site programs encourage face-to-face interpersonal communication and provide attendees with timely information, guidance, practical strategies, coping tools, and support.

 

The National Center additionally offers Certification in Emotional Wellness (CEW) based on an attendees' knowledge, experience and education. A written examination is provided at the culmination of these programs for entities seeking certification for their personnel.

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1. The Workplace, Organizations & Communities

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"There are many effective actions that organizations can take to promote mental health in the workplace; such actions may also benefit productivity." (WHO)  In the wake of a challenging experience such as a serious illness, a sudden death, an accident, a suicide, a threat of violence, a criminal act, a terrorist attack, a public health crisis, an active shooter, a natural disaster or other tragedy, what will you do to keep people functioning?  

 

During a crisis, people turn to trusted friends and colleagues for support. It’s easier to talk to those we know, members of the organizational family, than “strangers with name tags.” Notwithstanding these caregivers’ efforts, the magnitude of traumatic events often overwhelms individuals and their families, and compromises an organization’s ability to function. Dr. Lerner empowers organizations, with a strategy and training, to establish their own Crisis Management Teams that ultimately foster emotional wellness.*

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2. Educational Institutions

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Colleges & Universities

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With the changing spirit of our time, colleges and universities across our nation have been charged with the responsibility of developing crisis management plans. These plans typically focus on the structure of crisis response—in the aftermath of a tragedy. For example, they address such issues as who will serve as members of the Crisis Response Team? What are the specific roles of team members? And, how will information be shared with the university family?

 

Although these structured plans have been developed and implemented by many educational institutions, little attention has been given to the process of university crisis response. For example, once students and/or staff have been assembled in a dormitory lounge, library conference room or other supportive/counseling venue, what is done to help them? What is the goal of early intervention? Who is truly prepared to address emergent psychological needs?

 

Dr. Lerner's university/college crisis workshops and presentations are based on A Practical Guide for University Crisis Response co-authored by Dr. Lerner. These presentations describe the structure and process for effectively managing the wide spectrum of university-based crises—from the seemingly mundane to the most severe. Effective university crisis management cannot be delegated solely to administrators and members of a Crisis Response Team—but to all university personnel.

 

By reaching our college and university families early, during times of crisis, we can reestablish a productive educational process and prevent the acute difficulties of today from becoming the chronic problems of tomorrow.*

 

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Public & Private Schools

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From professional development workshops to Superintendent's Conference days, these on-site dynamic presentations and workshops will empower all members of the school family with practical knowledge and skills to identify and address the immediate needs of troubled students. Dr. Lerner, author of A Practical Guide for Crisis Response in Our Schools, will discuss the impact of traumatic events on individuals and the school community. He will:

 

• offer strategies to potentially prevent violent school-based tragedies

• help educators to identify students who may be at greatest risk and know when to refer to support staff

• review protocol for managing crisis situations, and  

• discuss practical strategies for addressing the emergent needs of students during times of crisis.

 

Being proactive, we can address the needs of vulnerable students early on, keep people functioning, mitigate ongoing emotional suffering and maintain the educational process. 

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3. Healthcare Systems & Emergency Responder Agencies

 

The stabilization of illness or injury and the preservation of life is always the priority. As we have learned, physical trauma can destroy lives. However, we have also learned that a "hidden trauma," traumatic stress, will ultimately destroy many more. Traumatic stress refers to our feelings, thoughts, actions and our physical and spiritual reactions when we are exposed to or even witness events that overwhelm our ability to cope. 

 

Traumatic events have direct and indirect/hidden, secondary/vicarious victims. Certainly, people who are directly harmed by an overwhelming event may experience traumatic stress. However, we must recognize the impact on many others including, but not limited to, family and friends of victims, healthcare providers and first responders. 

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Emotional Wellness with Dr. Mark Lerner is available for healthcare systems and first responder agencies. By reaching people early, we can ease emotional pain, keep people functioning, and mitigate ongoing suffering.*

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4. Survivors of Mass Casualty Incidents   

 

A Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) refers to any event where first responders can be overwhelmed by the severity of the circumstance and the number of people impacted.  

 

While physical and safety needs are the first priority, we must not overlook emotional needs. Mental health problems, experienced by direct and indirect victims subsequent to an MCI, will disable more people than all physical injuries combined.

 

Dr. Lerner frequently responds as a traumatic stress consultant during or in the aftermath of tragedy. The ultimate objective is to foster emotional wellness through the provision of timely information, guidance, practical strategies and support.

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* This protocol has been adapted from the same Acute Traumatic Stress Management™ module that Dr. Lerner created and utilized in training United Nations personnel from around the world in New York and Paris, France, for the United Nations Department of Safety & Security, and at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for the Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Lerner has presented this protocol in hospitals, for the pharmaceutical industry, for law enforcement and emergency response agencies, for airlines, corporations, organizations, and in schools and universities internationally. 

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About

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Dr. Mark Lerner

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is a clinical and forensic psychologist, author, speaker and international traumatic stress consultant who focuses on helping people through challenging experiences. He is the president of Lerner Psychological Services, P.C. in Melville, New York. As chairman and CEO of The National Center for Emotional Wellness, Inc., he regularly provides practical information, training, support for organizations and corporations, educational institutions, healthcare providers and first responders around the world. 

 

For over thirty years, Dr. Lerner has been called upon to consult with and train organizations, including private and public corporations, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, airlines, police and fire departments, universities and schools, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the United Nations in New York and Paris, France. 

 

Dr. Lerner frequently works with the legal community, serving as an expert witness in cases involving traumatic stress and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and with corporations in addressing emotional wellness and the development of organization-based Crisis Management Teams. The United Nations has appointed him as an Expert Consultant with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security.

 

Dr. Lerner is the founding president of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and former chairman of the National Center for Crisis Management. He is the originator and creator of the Acute Traumatic Stress Management (ATSM) intervention model, utilized around the world, and has authored several books based on this model including Acute Traumatic Stress Management, Comprehensive Acute Traumatic Stress Management, A Practical Guide for School Crisis Response and A Practical Guide for University Crisis Response. He has additionally authored It's OK Not To Be OK, During a Crisis, Surviving & Thriving, Living Through a Traumatic Experience, and CrisisNotes.   

 

Dr. Lerner began his professional life over 35 years ago as a musician and entertainer. Today, he returns to the stage in SESSIONS with DR. MARK LERNER.