Resources Center

NCPS provides the following information to the general public to assist them in answering their questions about mental health issues and mental healthcare. The links are provided as a convenience and do not imply endorsement. NCPS is not responsible for content provided on websites hosted by organizations outside NCPS and does not guarantee the accuracy of the information they contain.

Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting Support & Resources

Mental Health Resources for Coping with Traumatic Events

The Northern California Psychiatric Society (NCPS) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) offers tips and other mental health resources on how to minimize possible mental and emotional effects of trauma caused by a disaster like this.

The effects of traumas and disasters can have tremendous psychological impacts on those who are affected directly and indirectly. Affected individuals may have various stress reactions that present psychological, as well as physical, symptoms. However, there are steps that individuals can take for themselves and their families to mitigate and lessen the psychosomatic impacts felt by the community at large and those involved in the event.

After an event has passed, the APA recommends following these steps to begin coping with the possible devastation and stress that follows such a tragedy:

1. Keep informed about new information and developments, but avoid overexposure to news rebroadcasts of the events. Be sure to use credible information sources to avoid speculation and rumors.
2. Learn what local resources are available to aid those affected by the tragedy and be prepared to share this information.
3. If you feel anxious, angry or depressed, you are not alone. Talk to friends, family or colleagues who likely are experiencing the same feelings.
4. If you have contact with children, keep open dialogues with them regarding their fears of danger and the traumatic event. Let them know that in time, the tragedy will pass. Don’t minimize the danger, but talk about your ability to cope with tragedy and get through the ordeal.
5. Feelings of anxiety and depression following a traumatic event are natural. If these symptoms continue, even after order has been restored, or if these feelings begin to overwhelm you, seek the advice of a psychiatric physician in your local community.

For more information on coping with mental illnesses, visit the APA’s patient / public education website: www.psychiatry.org/mental-health

Information on coping after a disaster or tragedy is available at http://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/coping-after-disaster-trauma

The APA Blog includes several posts about Coping After Tragedy and Talking to Children About Disasters

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Northern California Wildfire Resources

Coping Strategies:
The Northern California Psychiatric Society and the American Psychiatric Association recommend following these steps for coping in the days following a traumatic event:

• Keep informed about new information and developments, but avoid overexposure to news rebroadcasts of the tragedy. Be sure to use credible information sources to avoid speculation and rumors.
• If you feel upset, you are not alone. Common reactions to trauma include anxiety, depression, irritability, difficulty sleeping, isolating yourself from others and increased use of alcohol and tobacco to manage your emotions. Talk to friends, family or peers who likely are experiencing the same feelings.
• If you have contact with children, keep open dialogues with them regarding their fears of danger. Talk about your ability to cope with tragedy and get through the ordeal.
• Feelings of fear, sadness and anger following a traumatic event are natural and may persist for days or much longer. You may want to seek psychiatric care if you or your child are having increasing problems at home, work or school, using more alcohol, or experiencing symptoms that don’t get better after a few days.

Mental health resources:

• California Department of Mental Health - can assist individuals with mental health issues that may arise due to the evacuations.  Call 1-800-896-4042 or visit: (http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/MentalHealthPrograms-Svcs.aspx)
• Red Cross - Licensed mental health workers willing to offer pro bono services to fire victims can call (571) 226-8183.
• Disaster Distress Helpline’s toll-free number (1-800-985-5990) and receive immediate counseling. This free, confidential, and multilingual crisis support service is also available via SMS (text TalkWithUs to 66746) to anyone experiencing psychological distress as a result of this event. People who call and text are connected to trained and caring professionals from crisis counseling centers in the network. The Helpline staff provides confidential counseling, referrals, and other needed support services.
• Sonoma County Behavioral Health - (707) 565-6900 or (800) 870-8786
• The SAMHSA Disaster App allows disaster behavioral health responders to navigate resources related to pre-deployment preparation, on-the-ground assistance, and post-deployment resources.  Users can also share resources from the app via text message or email and quickly identify local behavioral health services.  http://store.samhsa.gov/apps/disaster
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help families and communities. These resources include
  - Parent Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Wildfires
      - En Español
  - Wildfires: Tips for Parents on Media Coverage  
      - En Español    
  - Simple Activities for Children During Evacuations or When Playing Outside is Restricte
  - Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
  - Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
  - Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
  - Strategies to Manage Challenges for EMS and Other First Responder Families
  - Psychological First Aid (PFA) (in English, Spanish and multiple other languages)
• To help you stay current on the status of containment of the wildfires in your county or neighboring counties, you may access information at Calfire’s website:  http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current

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Collegial Resource Hotline

The Resource Committee offers a confidential line to speak with a committee member about any question or concern regarding yourself or your practice.  This is a benefit of NCPS Membership.  While NOT formal treatment, you may call about practically anything. 

You may choose the hotline or contact any committee member directly by email or phone below.  You may request anonymity and/or ask that your name not be shared with other committee members.  In short, this is:

• a free service
• conversations are confidential 
• anonymous by request
• a service without notes or records
• a service insulated from outside requests for information

Managing Stress in psychiatric practice keeps us well and averts burnout...

Hotline: 888-386-3641: Your call will be returned by the committee member on call or 

Call a committee member directly or you may initiate contact by email:

1.  Suzana Simkovic - (925) 719-2920 ssimkovicmd@gmail.com
2.  Lynn Bertram - 925-254-0700 or lynn.bertram@kp.org
3.  Marvin Firestone - firestone@forensicneuropsychiatiry.com
4.  Sam Naifeh - 415-420-0078 or samnaifeh@sbcglobal.net
5.  Gary Nye - 925-254-3222 or gn39@aol.com
6.  Richard Cicinelli -  rickcic@aol.com
7.  Simran Singh - email:  ssinghmd3@gmail.com
8.  Farah Zaidi - email:  farah09@yahoo.com

Common Mental Health Issues

For information regarding many common mental health issues please see the website http://www.healthyminds.org. At this site individuals can search by specific mental health issue, population subgroup and do a general search. The site was created the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

APA Well-being & Physician Burnout Resources

For resources on the APA website, go to: https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/well-being-and-burnout/well-being-resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI offers free, volunteer-driven support for families of patients suffering from mental illness. It is a good grassroots organization where people can find out valuable information without having to see a psychiatrist. NAMI oftentimes has psychiatrists (sometimes NCPS members) speak to them at their monthly meetings. These meetings are free to the public and a good example of the kind of information NAMI provides

• NAMI California
• Tel: 916-567-0163
• http://www.namicalifornia.org

• San Francisco NAMI
• Tel: 415-905-6264
• http://www.namisf.org

Medicare

Patients with Medi-Care are experiencing difficulties when trying to find a psychiatrist. While none of our members currently accept Medicare in private practice the following are a list of resources that should help in finding a physician accepting Medicare.

• California Health Advocates is a non-profit dedicated to Medicare advocacy and education for Californians. http://www.cahealthadvocates.org
• California Government website specifically for Medi-Cal http://www.medi-cal.ca.gov
• At the Official US Government Site for Medicare patients can search for doctors accepting Medicare. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Servies is open 24 hour a day 7 days a week. Telephone: 1-800-633-4227 Website: https://www.medicare.gov

County Health Services

County Health Services are the best resource for patients who are using Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal insurance to cover the cost for mental health services. Almost every county has a county hospital (and several clinics) where Medi-Cal patients can be seen. County Health Services are also a good place to start for patients using other types of health insurance. To see a list of contact information for Northern California Counties please click here.

Affiliated Associations

California Psychiatric Association: the state association of APA, the lobbying arm of the California District Branches.

Tel: 916-442-5196
http://www.calpsych.org

BECOME A KEY CONTACT: being a Key Contact is an important and irreplaceable part of our overall legislative advocacy efforts. For more information and to learn how to sign up to become a Key Contact please click here.

American Psychiatric Association: the national organization representing psychiatry.

Tel: 888-357-7924
http://www.psychiatry.org/

Other District Branches of the APA in California

Central California Psychiatric Society

Tel: 888 234-1613
https://cencalpsych.org/

Orange County Psychiatric Society

Tel: (714) 978-3016
www.ocps.org

San Diego Psychiatric Society

Tel: 858-279-4586
www.sandiegopsychiatricsociety.org

Southern California Psychiatric Society

Tel: (310) 815-3650
www.socalpysch.org