Mental and social health during and after acute emergencies: emerging consensus?

TLDR

Mental health care programmes during and after acute emergencies in resource‑poor settings are controversial, with no consensus on PTSD or vertical trauma services, yet expert opinion broadly supports diverse social and mental health interventions, indicating emerging agreement on good public health practice. Early interventions illustrate this consensus, exemplified by the Sphere handbook’s inclusion of a “mental and social aspects of health” standard, providing clear guidance for health planners.

Abstract

Mental health care programmes during and after acute emergencies in resource-poor countries have been considered controversial. There is no agreement on the public health value of the post-traumatic stress disorder concept and no agreement on the appropriateness of vertical (separate) trauma-focused services. A range of social and mental health intervention strategies and principles seem, however, to have the broad support of expert opinion. Despite continuing debate, there is emerging agreement on what entails good public health practice in respect of mental health. In terms of early interventions, this agreement is exemplified by the recent inclusion of a "mental and social aspects of health" standard in the Sphere handbook's revision on minimal standards in disaster response. This affirmation of emerging agreement is important and should give clear messages to health planners.