Crisis Mental Health Planning Factors for Disasters in the Homeland
Abstract
National, strategic guidance has directed the Department of Defense (DoD) to plan and prepare to support civil authorities in response to disasters in the homeland. This includes both natural and man-made disasters. Organizations have been created within the Department in response to this guidance, such as US Northern Command and various units that would respond to chemical, biological, and radiological/nuclear events. The National Response Plan also outlines the Department's role in potentially providing medical support to civil authorities, such as crisis mental health requirements. Unfortunately, an analysis of some recent disasters - man-made and natural - indicate that the DoD may not be prepared to respond with appropriate support in this area of health needs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration's Needs Assessment Formula provides a basic algorithm to quickly compute potential crisis mental health needs. Populating this worksheet with disaster statistics produces sobering requirements that the Department is not structured to respond to. Additionally, these depicted requirements are not accounted for in any force generating models. Mental health needs become even more demanding when the DoD must respond internally, and not in support of civil authorities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 05, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA471518
Entities
People
- Joseph F. Adams
Organizations
- United States Army War College