Policy for Mental Health Support for Healthcare Disaster Responders
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Swartz, Kimberly
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Abstract
Problem: Organizations for disaster response require policy analysis regarding support for the mental health of operational and deployment forces to ensure the safety, resilience, and retention of those forces. The gap between forces and mental health support can result in decreased recruitment, increased attrition, and sudden, expensive deployment team changes. Evidence exists demonstrating that repeated deployments are correlated with psychiatric consequences. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project is to conduct a policy analysis of current mental health provisions among deployed disaster responders following the CDC Policy Process framework. Methods: This project gathered an environmental scan of experts in support for disaster response to obtain policy advice for disaster relief organizations. This project assembled the responses of 11 stakeholders in the mental health field who are responsible for force protection. Experts were identified in disaster response organizations, and interview questions were developed based on existing evidence. Interviews were conducted via video, and Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) was used to store the answers anonymously and securely. Data was collected on current mental health support policies and analyzed using the CDC Policy Analysis Tool to identify direction and common themes. Results: Data indicates a diversity of approaches between organizations on best practices for mental health support. The themes identified included embedded mental health care in disaster teams and response to the individual needs of team members on the ground. Conclusions: Experts across disaster relief organizations indicate that modifying current policies or creating new policies is the correct direction for disaster relief organizations and that the current policy is not sustainable.