Delivery of Mental Health Care in a Large Disaster Shelter

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol S. North ◽  
Richard V. King ◽  
Raymond L. Fowler ◽  
Rita Kucmierz ◽  
Jess D. Wade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Generic Description ◽  
Hurricanes Katrina And Rita

AbstractLarge numbers of evacuees arrived in Dallas, Texas, from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita just 3 weeks apart in 2005 and from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike just 3 weeks apart again in 2008. The Dallas community needed to locate, organize, and manage the response to provide shelter and health care with locally available resources. With each successive hurricane, disaster response leaders applied many lessons learned from prior operations to become more efficient and effective in the provision of services. Mental health services proved to be an essential component. From these experiences, a set of operating guidelines for large evacuee shelter mental health services in Dallas was developed, with involvement of key stakeholders. A generic description of the processes and procedures used in Dallas that highlights the important concepts, key considerations, and organizational steps was then created for potential adaptation by other communities. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:423–429)

Promoting Integrated Mental Health Care Services in Disaster Response Programs: Lessons Learned After the Impact of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-138
Author(s):  
Julio C. Jiménez Chávez ◽  
Esteban Viruet Sánchez ◽  
Fernando J. Rosario Maldonado ◽  
Axel J. Ramos Lucca ◽  
Barbara Barros Cartagena
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTMeteorological and even human-made disasters are increasing every year in frequency and magnitude. The passage of a disaster affects a society without distinction, but groups with social vulnerability (low socioeconomic status, chronic medical, or psychological conditions, limited access to resources) face the most significant impact. As a result, psychological and behavioral symptoms (eg, depression and anxiety) can ensue, making the immediate response of mental health services crucial. Secondary data from a database of a temporary healthcare unit were analyzed. A total of 54 records were reviewed to collect information; univariate and bivariate analyses were done. The purpose of this article is to present our experience regarding the incorporation of a mental health services model, with its respective benefits and challenges, into a temporary healthcare unit, after Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Integration of Disaster Mental Health Services with Emergency Medicine

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef I. Ruzek ◽  
Bruce H. Young ◽  
Matthew J. Cordova ◽  
Brian W. Flynn
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Emergency Medical

AbstractDespite limited resources, emergency medical settings will be called upon to play many roles in the context of disasters and terrorist attacks that are related to preparedness, surveillance, mental health services delivery, and staff care. Such settings are a central capture site for those individuals likely to be at highest risk for developing mental health and functional problems. Because much of the potential harm to survivors of disaster or terrorism (and their families) will be related to their mental health and role functioning, preparedness requires the active integration of behavioral health into emergency medicine in every component of disaster response. There are many challenges of doing this including: (1) finding ways to integrate activities of the medical care, emergency response, and public health systems; (2) determining whether an incident has actually occurred; (3) making differential diagnoses and managing other aspects of initial medical needs; and (4) coping with the risks associated with system overload and failure. Delivery of direct mental health care must include: (1) survivor and family education; (2) identification and referral of those requiring immediate care and followup; (3) group education and support services; and (4) individual counseling. In order for effective response to occur, the integration of psychosocial care into disaster response must occur prior to the disaster itself, and will depend on effective collaboration between medical and mental health care providers. At workplaces, emergency medical care centers must ensure that staff and their families are properly trained and supported with regard to their disaster functions and encouraged to develop personal/family disaster plans.

scholarly journals What have we learned about what works in sustaining mental health care and support services during a pandemic? Transferable insights from the COVID-19 response

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Cogan ◽  
Heather Archbold ◽  
Karen Deakin ◽  
Bethany Griffith ◽  
Isabel Sáez Berruga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Care And Support

Efforts have been made to adapt the delivery of mental health care and support services to the demands of COVID-19. Here we detail the perspectives and experiences of mental health workers (MHWs), in relation to what they found helpful when adapting mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and responding to its demands. We were interested in exploring what has helped to support MHWs’ own health and wellbeing given that staff wellbeing is central to sustaining the delivery of quality mental health services moving forward. Individual interviews were conducted with MHWs (n = 30) during the third COVID-19 lockdown. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and managed using NVIVO. Qualitative data was analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Three major themes were created, which emphasized the importance of: (1) 'self-care and peer support (checking in with each other)', (2) 'team cohesion and collaboration' and (3) 'visible and supportive management and leadership (new ways of working)'. Our findings emphasize the importance of individual, team and systems-based support in helping MHWs maintain their own wellbeing, whilst adapting and responding to the challenges in providing mental health care and support during this pandemic. Guidance and direction from management, with adaptive leadership in providing sustained, efficient, and equitable delivery of mental healthcare, is essential. Our findings support future policy, research and mental health practice developments through sharing important salutogenic lessons learned and transferable insights which may help with preparedness for future pandemics.

scholarly journals An innovation in primary mental health services: The MidValley Well-being Service

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-33
Author(s):  
Margaret Pack
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Local Resident ◽  
Ministry Of Health

In 2004-5 a new primary health organisation (PHO) project was established that aimed to improve access to equitable health care for the residents of three suburban areas of Lower Hutt, Wellington serviced by three medical practices. After an early successful funding tender in the Ministry of Health, PHO funding round, the MidValley PHO Charitable Trust was formed and from there the MidValley Well-being Service was established and developed in 2005-7. Through positive feedback from Ministry of Health at the two-year evaluation, the service was funded for a third year and at the time of writing continues to grow and expand. This article is a reflection of ‘lessons learned’ in establishing a new PHO initiative in the community mental health services which is seen as accurately attuning and responding to the needs of the local resident population. The author describes the ways in which social work’s traditional concerns of social justice, Treaty of Waitangi principles of partnership, protection, self determination and participation, and a holistic approach to health care can assist in the envisioning of new service development under PHO initiatives.

scholarly journals Asian Americans and Mental Health: Cultural Barriers to Effective Treatment

Elements ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather K. Speller
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Racial Minorities ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Real Problem ◽  
Surgeon General

Disparities in mental health care for racial minorities remains a serious and very real problem calling for immediate attention. The 2001 report of the Surgeon General affirmed that ethnic and racial minorities have less access to and availability of mental health services, and are subsequently less likely to receive needed mental health services. This paper examines a range of issues regarding Asian American mental health. It presents the practical and cultural barriers that members of this ethnic group confront when seeking mental health care and explains how cultural differences sometimes result in misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment. It also explores ways that the American mental health care system can improve to accommodate diverse ethnic groups.

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