Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T23:04:21.405Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Access to community-based mental healthcare and psychosocial support within a disaster context

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Katherine P O'Hanlon  and
Boris Budosan
Katherine P O'Hanlon
Affiliation:
Maximus, Inc.; ABEM Emergency Physician, email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

After a large-scale humanitarian disaster, 30–50% of victims develop moderate or severe psychological distress. Rates of mild and moderate mental disorders increase by 5–10% and severe disorders by 1–2%. Those with such disorders need access to mental healthcare. Primary care clinics are appropriate due to their easy accessibility and the non-stigmatising environment. There is a consensus among experts that the mental health effects of disaster are best addressed by existing services, that is, through capacity building rather than by establishing parallel systems. Mental health interventions in emergencies should begin with a clear vision for the long-term advancement of community services.

Type
Special Papers
Information
BJPsych International , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , May 2015 , pp. 44 - 47
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists 2015

References

Global Fund (2014) Community Systems Strengthening Framework. Available at http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/(accessed 30 April 2014).Google Scholar
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (2007) IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. IASC. Available at http://www.who.int/mental_health/emergencies/guidelines_iasc_mental_health_psychosocial_june_2007.pdf (accessed 13 April 2014).Google Scholar
Jitendra, K. T., Goel, D., Kallivayalil, R. A., et al (2007) Regional cooperation in South Asia in the field of mental health. World Psychiatry, 6, 57–59.Google Scholar
Overseas Development Institute (2013) Health Interventions in Humanitarian Crisis: A Call for More Quality Research. ODI. Available at http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/8765.pdf (accessed March 2015).Google Scholar
Perez-Salez, P., Liria, A. F., Baingana, F., et al (2011) Integrating mental health into existing systems of care during and after complex humanitarian emergencies. Intervention, 9, 345–357.Google Scholar
Saraceno, B., Van Ommeren, M., Batniji, R., et al (2007) Barriers to improvement of mental health services in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet, 370, 1164–1174.Google Scholar
Saxena, S., Thornicroft, G., Knapp, M., et al (2007) Resources for mental health: scarcity, inequity and inefficiency. Lancet, 370, 878–889.Google Scholar
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2013) UNHCR's Mental Health and Psychosocial Support. Global Review 2013. Available at http://www.unhcr.org/51f67bdc9.pdf (accessed 15 April 2014).Google Scholar
Van Ommeren, M., Saxena, S. & Saraceno, B. (2005) Mental and social health during and after acute emergencies: emerging consensus? Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 83, 71–75.Google ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization (2008) Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care: A Global Perspective. Available at http://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/Integratingmhintoprimarycare2008_lastversion.pdf (accessed 15 April 2014).Google Scholar
World Health Organization (2013) Building Back Better: Sustainable Mental Health Care After Emergencies. Available at http://www.who.int/mental_health/emergencies/building_back_better/en (accessed 15 April 2014).Google Scholar
World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (2008) Approaching Mental Health Reform Regionally: The Mental Health Project for South-Eastern Europe. Available at http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/102399/E92163.pdf (accessed 15 April 2014).Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.