Mental health service use among American Red Cross disaster workers responding to the September 11, 2001 U.S. terrorist attacks.

Full Abstract

In this article, we explored 1) the extent of mental health (MH) service use by American Red Cross disaster relief workers, both before (lifetime) and 1 year after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and 2) demographic, disaster and MH variables predicting (1-year) post-September 11 MH service use in this population. A sample of 3015 Red Cross disaster workers was surveyed 1 year after the attacks, regarding demographic characteristics, MH service use before and since the attacks, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Findings revealed that while 13.5% used MH services before the attacks, 10.7% used services after. Variables increasing the likelihood of MH service use after the attacks included the following:
no previous MH treatment, younger age, being divorced/widowed, and higher PTSD intrusion or hyperarousal symptoms. Findings support other recent research on MH service use after the September 11 attacks.

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Author information

Author/s: Elhai, Jon D (JD); Jacobs, Gerard A (GA); Kashdan, Todd B (TB); DeJong, Gary L (GL); Meyer, David L (DL); Frueh, B Christopher (BC);

Affiliation: Disaster Mental Health Institute, University of South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street-SDU 114, Vermillion, SD 57069-2390, USA. jonelhai(-atsign-)fastmail.fm

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Psychiatry research (Psychiatry Res), published in Ireland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jun; vol 143 (issue 1) : pp 29-34

Dates: Created 2006/06/07; Completed 2006/11/09; Revised 2008/04/17;

PMID: 16712952, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Disasters
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Health Services - utilization
Middle Aged

Middle Aged
Red Cross
Rescue Work - statistics & numerical data
September 11 Terrorist Attacks - psychology; statistics & numerical data
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; etiology; therapy
United States - epidemiology

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