Mental health workers perceptions of disaster response in China

Yingjun Xi,Emily Ying Yang Chan,Kuo Shi,Yiming Yao,Amy L Gillespie,Yuyang He,Wei Liu,Xin Ma,Runsen Chen,Chihua Jia

doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6313-9

Yingjun Xi, Emily Ying Yang Chan + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6313-9

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Abstract

BackgroundThe post-disaster mental health crisis intervention (MHCI) system in China remains immature and unsystematic. We aim to report the perceptions of a large sample of MHCI workers and government administrators and provide recommendations for developing a national mental health disaster response management plan in China.MethodsAn in-depth qualitative study was conducted, collecting data from 20 focus-group discussions and 25 key stakeholder interviews. These recruited participants who had been involved in different types of disaster rescue across 7 provinces/cities where disasters have recently occurred. We used thematic analysis to analyze the data and relevant findings were extracted for policy recommendation.ResultsMental health workers’ perspectives were examined in detailed according to four core themes: forms of organization, intervention pathway, intervention strategy and technique, and public health information. Post-disaster MHCI should be approached in teams that are integrated with emergency medicine systems, and be led by unified command management. All levels of local health and family planning commission should prepare post-disaster MHCI work plans and build response teams/emergency centres. Future training for MHCI workers should focus on: building a sense of trust within the team; clarifying each member’s role; strengthening the screening, assessment and referrals training for psychological professionals; and providing psychological intervention training for Chinese psychiatrists. It is necessary to set up guiding principles for disaster research ethics, mental health rehabilitation and media interaction.ConclusionsThrough exploring and analyzing the perceptions of current disaster response mental health workers and government administrators, our findings provide essential recommendations for developing a national to county level post-disaster MHCI emergency management plan and can guide the formulation of relevant laws and regulation in China.

Highlights

The post-disaster mental health crisis intervention (MHCI) system in China remains immature and unsystematic
Hierarchical organization Forms of organization Mental health workers suggested that MHCI should be integrated with overall rescue and emergency medicine response systems instead of conducting their work independently
Our qualitative study findings are consistent with current knowledge of MHCI development which recommended that the psychosocial care after disasters should be integrated within existing procedures for crisis management [20]

Summary

Introduction

The post-disaster mental health crisis intervention (MHCI) system in China remains immature and unsystematic. We aim to report the perceptions of a large sample of MHCI workers and government administrators and provide recommendations for developing a national mental health disaster response management plan in China. Natural disasters, human-made disasters, terrorist attacks, and public health accidents have occurred frequently in China. Due to the important role of mental health crisis intervention (MHCI) in emergency management [1], the government. Many developed countries have begun to incorporate MHCI into post-disaster relief efforts, and have developed effective systems [2,3,4,5], in China the post-disaster MHCI system is still at an early stage of development.

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