Supplemental Research Bulletin: Disasters and People with Serious Mental Illness

It has been estimated that 11.2 million adults in the United States have a serious mental illness (SMI), and three-quarters of those who have SMI have more than one mental illness. Natural and human-caused disasters can traumatize people without SMI, and those with SMI may be particularly at risk of difficult experiences in and after disasters. For example, they may use mental health services and medication to manage their illness; and access and supplies may be diminished or compromised by a disaster and its aftermath. Individuals with SMI are more likely than individuals without SMI to be living in poverty, which has been linked to more difficult experiences during and after disasters. Disaster behavioral health professionals and other emergency planners and responders should understand the unique needs of individuals with SMI in and after disasters to plan services and promote effective preparedness, response, and recovery.

This edition of the Supplemental Research Bulletin focuses on how disasters may affect individuals with SMI over the short and longer terms. It covers the following topics:

Risk factors for SMI that may develop anew after a disaster (i.e., major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder)
Protective factors for individuals with both preexisting and post-disaster SMI
Approaches to support full disaster-affected communities, including individuals with SMI
Psychotherapy and interventions to support individuals with SMI after disasters