The Disaster Mental Health Responses to the BP
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Transcript of The Disaster Mental Health Responses to the BP
The Disaster Mental Health Responses to the BP Oil Crisis
Wendell Cathcart
Disaster Mental Health• DMH intervention is a
relatively recent addition to disaster health treatment
• People at risk from a disaster: Pre-existing condition, People who are affected, Children, Underserved populations
• Interventions are largely dependent on ability to access at-risk and underserved communities
• Different interventions are needed for different disasters
Exxon Valdez and Hurricane Katrina
Looking at Technological disasters (such as an oil spill) and at Natural Disasters (such as a hurricane)
The Exxon Valdez SpillMarch 24, 1989 – Prince William Sound,
AlaskaSurface-spill: between 260-750,000
barrels◦BP Spill, estimate at 4.9 million barrels
between April 20 and July 15, 2010Oil spill “Technological” DisasterMore stressful than Natural DisastersThose most at risk: People who feel their
livelihood and lifestyles are at riskExxon cleanup dollars – “money pollution”
The Gulf Coastal States
Hurricane KatrinaMental Health
infrastructure and behavioral health problems left over from Katrina
Gulf economy already recovering from Katrina
April 20, 2010 – July 15, 2010
Estimated Oil Coverage by August 7, 2010
ProjectComparing the Mental Health responses in
the five Gulf Coast statesBased on interview data from the five
Disaster Mental Health Coordinators (DHMCs)
Examined four variables as they related to the disaster mental health responses of each state ◦the physical proximity to spill ◦ the economic threat from the disaster◦the state’s funding of disaster mental health ◦ the state’s mental health support system
Example QuestionsFigure 1. Interview Questions
1. How is your state fairing through this disaster? What were your departments or state’s priorities when you realized the severity of this disaster?
2. Who was considered most at risk for mental health problems/stress from this spill?
3. What are some of the specific difficulties in terms of mental health for your state?
4. Did your department start any new mental health programs following the spill?
5. How were new programs funded or resourced?
6. What would you do differently in another, similar disaster?
7. What role is the nonprofit sector playing in your state’s mental health response effort?
At-Risk Populations by StateTexas – Refinery workers, support
industry: Community stigmaLouisiana – Fishermen, Oil workers,
support industry, Disaster respondersMississippi – Fishermen, Vietnamese
shrimpers, Support industry, tourismAlabama – Fishermen, Tourism,
Family-owned businessesFlorida – Shrimpers, Oystermen,
General economy (coastal state)
Mental Health Indicators on CoastIncreased demand for
Community Mental Health resources
Increased use of state support resources
Suicides and domestic violenceAlcohol and drug abuse“Acting out” and misbehavior in
schools
DMH Responses by StateTexas
◦ Continued as normal◦ Did not request resources from BP
Louisiana◦ Governor supplied $1million to fund “Louisiana Spirit”
program Hired 50 early responders in “diad” pairs to target at-risk
populations for 60-day recovery fund◦ Requested $138 million for 5 year program from BP,
received $15 million installation payment Contributed $6 million to Catholic Charities
◦ BP/Transocean took care of many employees “in house”◦ Huge volunteer effort by Catholic Charities and other
nonprofits
DMH Responses by State cont. Mississippi
◦ Community Mental Health resources operated without any additional funds until the state legislature accept BPs funds in late October
◦ Requested $125 million for 5 year program from BP, received $12 million installation Money delayed until late November
◦ Money used to bolster existing health, mental health, and economic aid programs
◦ Grant program began late November Alabama
◦ Chartered boat captain suicide in June Alabama advanced its own funds to hire 20 responders following the
suicide and 70 in all by November◦ Received $12 million installation payment from BP
Spent money on psychological counseling programs as well as programs for economic aid
DMH Responses by State cont.Florida
◦Requested $6 million from BP for a 90-day program, eventually received $3 million Bolstered existing mental health and outreach
programs Gave grant to Blakeview Baptist Behav. Health
(hurricane experience)◦Natural disaster responders were heavily used◦Bi-monthly surveys for a year to assess MH
and response◦Nonprofits, faith-based, and volunteer
organizations have a large presence
General Information Texas Louisiana Mississippi Alabama FloridaAt-Risk Refinery
Workers, Support workers
Fishermen,Oil workers,Disaster Responders
Fishermen, Vietnamese Shrimpers,Support Industry,Tourism
Fishermen,Tourism,Family businesses
Shrimpers/Oystermen,General economy
MH Care System
CMH (?) CMH (?) CMH (top-down) CMH (top-down) CMH (run regionally)
BP Funding Requested
NA $138mil/5 years
$125mil/5 years
? $6 mil
BP Funded NA $15mil $12 mil $12 mil $3 milBP Funds Available
NA September October (avail. late November)
August September
Disaster (State) Funding
NA $1mil (Louisiana Spirit)
No ($?) Early Staff Hirings
No
Add’l State Employees (B4 BP Funds)
Normal Lvl Normal lvl+ 10-50
Normal Lvl Normal lvl+ 70+
Normal Lvl
Federal Surveillance
NA CASPERSAMHSA
CASPERSAMHSA
CASPERSAMHSA
SAMHSA
# Counties Touching Gulf
17 11 3 2 23 (+/–)
Gulf County Pops.
Millions 1,528,567 355,145 591,599 Millions
Policy SuggestionsInvest early in behavioral health
response efforts to target at-risk individuals (Louisiana and Alabama)
States should share information and work with SAMHSA
Texas Louisiana
Mississippi
Alabama Florida
Proximity Far Closest 2nd Closest
Close Medium
Econ. Threat
Low High High High Medium
Add. State Disaster Fund.
NA High No additional
High No additional
MH Support System Use
Normal High Medium High Normal
Risk Low High High High MediumResponse Low High Medium High Medium
Conclusion
My hypothesis was correct, the physical proximity to spill, the economic threat from the disaster, the state’s funding of disaster mental health, and the state’s mental health support system could determine a state’s response.