Mental Health Service Use after a Disaster—What Matters?
Description:
A one-year pilot project, this research will focus on the development and application of comprehensive social marketing methods to promote the use of behavioral health services by older adults with disaster-related psychological distress. Findings from this study will a) provide practical guidance for mental health service providers and policy makers, b) improve methods used to promote disaster mental health services, c) identify effective outreach methods, d) enhance acceptance of disaster mental health services, e) assist community and state aging services offering help for elders in time of disaster, f) further theories of behavior change and help-seeking specific to disasters and older adults and g) lead to the development and evaluation of programs to increase resilience and protective factors and decrease psychological distress.
Findings from this study will be used to obtain funding to conduct the next phases of this project, a statewide effort in collaboration with the West Central Florida Agency on Aging and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Contact Person: Lisa M. Brown
Funding for Academic Year: 2006-07