title: A review of telemental health in international and post-disaster settings.
abstract: Telemental health (TMH) is an important component in meeting critical mental health needs of the global population. Mental health is an issue of global importance; an estimated 450 million people worldwide have mental or behavioural disorders, accounting for 12% of the World Health Organization's (WHO) global burden of disease. However, it is reported that 75% of people suffering from mental disorders in the Developing World receive no treatment or care. In this paper, the authors review global mental health needs with a focus on the use of TMH to meet mental health needs in international and post-disaster settings. Telemedicine and TMH have the capacity to bring evidence-based best practices in medicine and mental health to the under-served and difficult to reach areas of the world, including post-disaster settings. The authors will also report on the mental health impact of the Haiti 2010 earthquake and on the limited use of telemedicine in post-disaster Haiti. The paper will underscore the point that published papers on the use of TMH in post-disaster settings are lacking. Finally, the paper will review considerations before working in TMH in international and post-disaster settings.
authors.affiliation: a Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma , Cambridge, Massachusetts , USA , and.
authors.forename: Eugene F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Augusterfer
authors.affiliation: a Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma , Cambridge, Massachusetts , USA , and.|b Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Cambridge, Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Mollica
authors.affiliation: a Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma , Cambridge, Massachusetts , USA , and.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lavelle
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D014943:Global Health; D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011570:Psychiatry; D017216:Telemedicine; D014944:World Health Organization