Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ndmmz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-17T22:20:34.463Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Integration of Mental and Behavioral Health Into Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

Betty Pfefferbaum ,
Brian W. Flynn ,
David Schonfeld ,
Lisa M. Brown ,
Gerard A. Jacobs ,
Daniel Dodgen ,
Darrin Donato ,
Rachel E. Kaul ,
Brook Stone  and
Ann E. Norwood
...Show all authors
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The close interplay between mental health and physical health makes it critical to integrate mental and behavioral health considerations into all aspects of public health and medical disaster management. Therefore, the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB) convened the Disaster Mental Health Subcommittee to assess the progress of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in integrating mental and behavioral health into disaster and emergency preparedness and response activities. One vital opportunity to improve integration is the development of clear and directive national policy to firmly establish the role of mental and behavioral health as part of a unified public health and medical response to disasters. Integration of mental and behavioral health into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery requires it to be incorporated in assessments and services, addressed in education and training, and founded on and advanced through research. Integration must be supported in underlying policies and administration with clear lines of responsibility for formulating and implementing policy and practice.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:60–66)

Keywords

delivery of health caremental health servicesbehavioral healthdisaster responsepublic health preparednessdisaster recoveryemergency medical servicesUS government agencieshealth policydisaster mental and behavioral healthdisaster preparedness, response, recoveryemergency managementfederal and state disaster plans
Type
Special Focus
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 60 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.US Department of Health and Human Services. National Health Security Strategy of the United States of America ; 2009. http://www.phe.gov/preparedness/planning/authority/nhss/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
2.Federal Emergency Management Agency. National Disaster Recovery Framework. Strengthening Disaster Recovery for the Nation; September 2011. http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FEMA-2010-0004-0144. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
3.US Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21. Public Health and Medical Preparedness; October 18, 2007. http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/laws/gc_1219263961449.shtm. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
4.Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. 42 USC 201, Public L No. 109-417, 120 Stat 2831. December 19, 2006. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ417.109.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
5.US Department of Health and Human Services. Amended Charter, National Biodefense Science Board ; 2010. http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/boards/nbsb/Documents/amendcharter-nbsb-2010.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
6.Disaster Mental Health Subcommittee of the National Biodefense Science Board. US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Disaster Mental Health Recommendations. Report of the Disaster Mental Health Subcommittee of the National Biodefense Science Board. November 18, 2008. http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/boards/nbsb/Documents/nsbs-dmhreport-final.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
7.National Biodefense Science Board, US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Letter to The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services; November 18, 2008. http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/boards/nbsb/Documents/nbsb-dmhrecs-081118.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
8.Disaster Mental Health Subcommittee of the National Biodefense Science Board, US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Integration of Mental and Behavioral Health in Federal Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: Assessment and Recommendations; September 22, 2010. http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/boards/nbsb/meetings/Documents/dmhreport1010.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
9.National Biodefense Science Board, US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Letter to The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services; September 22, 2010. http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/boards/nbsb/meetings/Documents/92210dmhltrsec.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
10.US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Division for At-Risk Individuals, Behavioral Health, and Community Resilience. Federal Department/Agency Information Gathering Tool Responses for the National Biodefense Science Board's Disaster Mental Health Subcommittee Recommendations ; 2009.Google Scholar
11.US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. HHS Disaster Behavioral Health Concept of Operations ; December 2011. http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/abc/Documents/dbh-conops.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar
12.Federal Emergency Management Agency. Emergency Support Function #8 –Public Health and Medical Services Annex; January 2008. http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-esf-08.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2012.Google Scholar