Incorporating community mental health into local bioterrorism response planning: experiences from the DeKalb County Board of Health.
Following a brief introduction to response planning for terrorism and other disasters, the authors present their experiences in developing a grassroots, interdisciplinary group charged with incorporating a mental health response component into the bioterrorism response plan for the metropolitan Atlanta area. This group was organized and supported by the Center for Public Health Preparedness at the DeKalb County Board of Health. Various viewpoints of key participating agencies are presented. Recommendations are provided for other localities and stakeholders who plan to incorporate a community mental health component into local disaster response plans.
Compton
Michael T
MT
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive S.E., Box 26238, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA, Michael.Compton@emory.edu
Cibulas
Brenda K
BK
Gard
Betsy
B
Kaslow
Nadine J
NJ
Kotwicki
Raymond J
RJ
Reissman
Dori B
DB
Schor
Larry
L
Wetterhall
Scott
S
D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000523:psychology*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005845:Georgia; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011635:Public Health Administration; D012011:Red Cross; D012581:Schools, Public Health; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States; D014483:United States Dept. of Health and Human Services