J Psychosoc Nurs Men
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J Psychosoc Nurs Men · Sep 2009
Comparative StudyMental health needs in a post-disaster environment.
Maintenance of a daily routine, which includes scheduled medications, access to a health care provider, and a stable environment, forms an anchor point in the lives of people diagnosed with mental illness. When a disaster, either man made or natural, interferes with these, patients often experience an acute exacerbation of their illness. ⋯ A review of the literature indicates that the impact on survivors' mental well-being is directly related to the level of exposure to a disaster. Mental health professionals must include crisis management, planning, and communication in pre- and post-disaster interventions with people who have mental illness.