| In April 2010, an explosion at Upper Big Branch Coal-Mine in West Virginia took the lives of 29 miners. While technical disasters have attracted recent attention, little research has been done specifically on coal-mining disasters. Because coal-mining communities are traditionally underserved, clergy are often the first responders able to provide mental health care. The goal of this study was to identify themes surrounding how clergy viewed their interventions in the aftermath of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster and what clergy believed they could teach to or learn from mental health care professionals, with the ultimate hope of facilitating future interdisciplinary collaboration.;Eight clergy who provided emotional care in the aftermath of the explosion were interviewed. Seven main themes were identified: (a) hope can be challenging after a coal-mining disaster, (b) acts of a "theology of presence" can be the most effective interventions, (c) ulterior motives are a roadblock to interdisciplinary collaboration, (d) trust and respect are the main indicators of successful collaboration, (e) first-responder clergy have a desire to understand emotional responses, (f) mistrust and suspicion are a cultural phenomenon in Appalachia and interfere with seeking mental health care services, and (g) a tight-knit community can cause unique challenges for mental health care providers. These themes are discussed with implications and suggestions for improving collaboration between clergy and professional mental health care providers working in the aftermath of coal-mining disasters in the future. |
