December 6, 2007

Building Bridges: Mental Health Consumers and Representatives of the Disaster Response Community in Dialogue

Natural and manmade disasters have heightened awareness of the critical need to support effective mental health responses. Disasters disrupt stability and structure by altering normal economic and social activities both of individuals and of whole communities. They have and will continue to have serious mental health consequences such as bringing a sense of loss, grief, depression, and change. The focus of the mental health response is to give a mental health assessment and crisis counseling to all residents and evacuees impacted. Second, individuals with serious mental illnesses need appropriate services and supports for the ongoing recovery.

This report by Melissa Capers, AFYA, Inc., discusses the effort to foster recovery by establishing productive communication and building effective relationships. The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), hosted a meeting to bring together mental health consumers, policymakers, providers, and others involved in the disaster response community. On the basis of the discussions, participants developed recommendations and identified opportunities for improved disaster responses to people with mental illnesses. This report summarizes the meeting and the recommendations that emerged from the dialogue.