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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
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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

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References

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