Date of Award
4-2012
Document Type
Independent Study
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Disasters have the potential to create massive public health devastation and overwhelming psychosocial impact within communities in which they occur. Since the events of September 11, 2001, behavioral health has become more integrated with public health preparations and response to disasters. Yet there can be challenges between public health's population-wide focus of protecting and restoring community wellness and behavioral health's focus on treating mental health symptoms of individuals. Evidence suggests that integrated, multidisciplinary approaches including the community itself are best to address the needs of those most at risk and restore a community's resiliency, yet best practices for doing so are lacking. A model of public health interventions was utilized to demonstrate avenues for enhanced and collective action between public and behavioral health sectors in order to speed community resiliency and cohesion following disasters.
Recommended Citation
Alms, Maureen A., "Best Practices for Public Health and Behavioral Health Collaboration Following Disasters to Enhance Community Resiliency" (2012). Theses and Dissertations. 4884.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/4884