Title: Policy guidance for mental health support for federal healthcare disaster responders
Abstract:
Problem: Currently organizations for disaster response require policy analysis regarding support for the mental health of operational and deployment forces to ensure safety, resilience and retention as disaster response needs increase. This gap can result in decreased recruitment, increased attrition, and deployment team changes. Evidence also shows that repeated deployments are correlated with psychiatric consequences.
Purpose: The purpose of this policy development quality improvement project is to conduct a policy analysis of current mental health provisions among deployed disaster responders in accordance with the CDC Policy Process framework.
Methods: This policy project will gather an environmental scan of experts who provide support for disaster response including the best practice, most feasible, and most ethical policy advice for government organizations. In order to best support healthcare workers deployed in disaster scenarios, this project assembles the responses of 10-15 stakeholders in the mental health field who are directly responsible for force protection. Experts were identified in aligned and adjacent 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 to identify common themes.
Preliminary Results: Initial data collection has demonstrated a diversity of approaches between organizations on best practice for mental health support. Consensus is not present on use of evidence-based tools.
Preliminary Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest the need for policy creation or change.
