Child Mental Health Services Access and Efficacy Post-Disaster: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

The increased threat of natural disasters makes understanding the relationship between community resources and children's mental health critical. Mental health care efficacy and access are crucial to assessing the quality of community mental health care availability. The primary objective of this scoping review is to investigate the relationship between children's mental health and community mental health resource efficacy and accessibility after a major disaster. Conducted a systematic search to identify epidemiologic and health service utilization studies assessing the relationship between disasters and subsequent health service utilization amongst children and adolescents. The research returned 1682 potentially relevant studies and 31 articles were selected based on identified criteria from pre-selected databases. The studies conclude a gender and age-based disparity in access and efficiency of children's mental health services. The studies also identify the need for greater resource distribution and organizational structure.