Mental health service use among American Red Cross disaster workers responding to the September 11, 2001 U.S. terrorist attacks.
In this article, we explored 1) the extent of mental health (MH) service use by American Red Cross disaster relief workers, both before (lifetime) and 1 year after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and 2) demographic, disaster and MH variables predicting (1-year) post-September 11 MH service use in this population. A sample of 3015 Red Cross disaster workers was surveyed 1 year after the attacks, regarding demographic characteristics, MH service use before and since the attacks, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Findings revealed that while 13.5% used MH services before the attacks, 10.7% used services after. Variables increasing the likelihood of MH service use after the attacks included the following: no previous MH treatment, younger age, being divorced/widowed, and higher PTSD intrusion or hyperarousal symptoms. Findings support other recent research on MH service use after the September 11 attacks.
Elhai
Jon D
JD
Disaster Mental Health Institute, University of South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street-SDU 114, Vermillion, SD 57069-2390, USA. jonelhai@fastmail.fm
Jacobs
Gerard A
GA
Kashdan
Todd B
TB
DeJong
Gary L
GL
Meyer
David L
DL
Frueh
B Christopher
BC
D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012011:Red Cross; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology