Estimating Capacity Requirements for Mental Health Services After a Disaster Has Occurred: A Call for New Data

摘要

Objectives. We sought to estimate the extended mental health service capacity requirements of persons affected by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.Methods. We developed a formula to estimate the extended mental health service capacity requirements following disaster situations and assessed availability of the information required by the formula.Results. Sparse data exist on current services and supports used by people with mental health problems outside of the formal mental health specialty sector. There also are few systematically collected data on mental health sequelae of disasters.Conclusions. We recommend research-based surveys to understand service usage in non–mental health settings and suggest that federal guidelines be established to promote uniform data collection of a core set of items in studies carried out after disasters.