Citation

Augusterfer EF, Mollica RF, Lavelle J. Curr. Psychiatry Rep. 2018; 20(10): e88.

Affiliation

Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Harvard Global Mental Health Program, 22 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s11920-018-0953-4

PMID

30155744

Abstract

THE PURPOSE REVIEW: This paper will review the literature on global disasters and the mental health impact of disasters, and discuss the use of digital health/telemental health in providing care in post-disaster settings. RECENT FINDINGS: Global disasters, natural and manmade, are on the rise. As a consequence, there are increases in the health and mental health impact in the affected populations. We examine the literature on the health and mental health impact of disasters and the role of digital health/telemental health in response to meeting those needs. We examine the use of digital health/telemental health in two case examples, one of a natural disaster and one of a man-made disaster. Finally, we examine a blended telemental health model for collaboration between mental health and primary care providers in post-disaster settings. Digital health/telemental health is positioned on the cusp of the technology explosion, thus bringing much needed medical and mental health care to previously under-served populations.

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; Digital health; Disaster response; Mental health; PTSD; Telemental health; Telepsychiatry