Integrating Mental Health Services into Humanitarian Relief Responses to Social Emergencies, Disasters, and Conflicts

Justin E. Ross

Integrating Mental Health Services into Humanitarian Relief Responses to Social Emergencies, Disasters, and Conflicts

Reference: Henley, R., Marshall, R., & Vetter, S. (2011). Integrating Mental Health Services into Humanitarian Relief Responses to Social Emergencies, Disasters, and Conflicts: A Case Study. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 38(1), 132-141. doi:10.1007/s11414-010-9214-y

Theme: The development of mental and behavioral health focused response efforts following disasters.

Summary:

·         There were early programs built around the September 11^th attacks that put behavioral health screening surrounding disasters into effect for the first time.  Subsequent similar programs followed soon there after

·         The hope is that there will be increased collaboration between international mental health and disaster relief communities too, increasing the understanding of the correlation between disasters and the need for mental health services.

·         There is an increased push for non-mental health professionals to be trained to provide the services necessary for people following disasters.  Some of this comes in the administration of triage.

·         Where as in the United States there is some stigmatism to providing mental health services, in other cultures there is a huge stigmatism and therefore there are great hurdles to overcome to implement these programs.

Application to the lesson topic:  This article relates directly to crisis uncertainty impacts on vulnerable populations and offers suggestions for how communications can help to deal with uncertainty.  This is especially true as how communications surrounding mental and behavioral health issues can be addressed during a disaster.

Application to emergency services: Too often emergency service organizations focus only on life safety issues and pay no mind to mental and behavioral health issues.  This article should be read by all emergency management professionals.  This topic needs to be on the minds of all people that are charged with developing response resources for a community.  The mental fragile are some of the most vulnerable populations we serve.

 

Justin E. Ross
j_elliotte@yahoo.com
360 609-2839