title: Opportunities and challenges of implementing collaborative mental health care in post-Katrina New Orleans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe participants' experiences with training on, and implementation of, a collaborative care mental health approach for treating depression and anxiety in post-disaster New Orleans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthcare providers from three organizations that participated in the Mental Health Infrastructure and Training (MHIT) program underwent semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MHIT program provided training and clinical support to community-based agencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Social workers, care/case managers, primary care providers, and a psychiatrist that participated in trainings.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MHIT project consisted of a series of trainings and clinical support designed in collaboration with specialists from Tulane University, RAND/UCLA, the University of Washington, and local community organizations with the goal of creating local resources to provide screening, diagnosis, triage, and treatment for depression and anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interview participants were asked to describe the impacts of training on the following areas: delivery of mental health services, ability to implement elements of the collaborative care model, care of clients/patients, and development of networks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interview transcript analysis identified themes highlighting the opportunities and challenges of implementing a collaborative care model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation of a collaborative care model for treating depression and anxiety was possible in post-Katrina/Rita New Orleans and has potential for implementation in future post-disaster recovery settings.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, USA. wbentham@uw.edu
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bentham
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Vannoy
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wennerstrom
authors.forename: Benjamin F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Springgate
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D055820:New Orleans; D010348:Patient Care Team