TY - JOUR PY - 2014// TI - Examining disaster mental health workforce capacity JO - Psychiatry interpersonal and biological processes A1 - Reifels, Lennart A1 - Naccarella, Lucio A1 - Blashki, Grant A1 - Pirkis, Jane SP - 199 EP - 205 VL - 77 IS - 2 N2 - OBJECTIVE: We examined the capacity of the disaster mental health workforce in Victoria, Australia, to provide the three evidence-supported intervention types of psychological first aid, skills for psychological recovery, and intensive mental health treatments.

METHOD: Utilizing data from a cross-professional, state-level disaster mental health workforce survey (n = 791), we developed composite capacity indicators (CCI) for each intervention and performed logistic regression analyses to examine key predictors of disaster mental health workforce capacity.

RESULTS: CCI profiles highlighted significant gaps in the disaster mental health capacity of Victorian providers, with only 32-42% able to deliver current best practice interventions. Key predictors of workforce capacity common and unique to interventions were highlighted.

CONCLUSIONS: Key strategies to raise Victoria's disaster mental health workforce capacity should focus on targeted multilevel training in best practice interventions, creation of practice opportunities, and structural provider support/engagement. CCIs focused on best practice interventions provide a methodology for rapid workforce capacity assessment that can facilitate disaster preparedness planning, capacity building, and delivery of quality disaster mental health services.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0033-2747 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/psyc.2014.77.2.199 ID - ref1 ER -