Estimating capacity requirements for mental health services after a disaster has occurred: a call for new data.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Siegel
Carole E
CE
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA. siegel@nki.rfmh.org
Laska
Eugene
E
Meisner
Morris
M
D000328:Adult; D001359:Aviation; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005544:Forecasting; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011156:Population Density; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology; D014504:Urban Health