The correlations between mental health disorders and EMS is discussed since those in emergency response are more open to suffer form mental disorders in the midst of disasters. Aside form that the focus was more on how to better study vulnerable populations who have experienced trauma, such as EMS.
Google Scholar shows that this article has been cited in more than 40 different works. All have to do with global health due and epidimology. Some of the papers it has been cited in include:
The bibliography shows that there was an extensive amount of research done and that this article truly doesn't encompass most of the findings on this topic. There are studies dated back to the 40s as well as published by world renown experts on the study of disaster and its effects on mental health. There is also a great array of different types of publication types as well. The bibliography clearly shows an intense amount of work that went into putting this research article together.
I read up on what constitutes people who can classify as peri-disaster personnel, I found the concept interesting and didn't realize there was a specific name to classify those people, I always wondered about the people who were indirectly effected by a disaster or partially effected due to proximity. I also researched comorbidity and common forms of mental illness that arise in post disaster survivors.
The main findings in the article include the development of mental health disorders in disaster victims, looking at risks, psychopathology, course of the disorders, prevention, treatment and recovery.
Emergency response is addressed in the "Post-Disaster: Preventing and Treating Mental Health Conditions" section, with the debriefing done by emergency responders referenced. However, critical incident stress debriefing hasn't shown to be effective in the recovery process or preventing mental health disorders. Psychological first aid (PFA) is suggested as a post-disaster intervention, but it seems like a duty for mental health care providers, not emergency responders.
Psychological first aid
Cognitive behavioral therapy
PTSD 10-20% among rescue workers
Emily Goldmann is an expert in looking at factors of mental health. She has a masters and PhD in epidemiology, and is a research assistant professor at NYU. Sandro Galea is a physician and epidemiologist. The two have a great deal of experience in health care and in examining how mental health can be improved or worsened by a variety of additional factors.
The arguments are supported by many citations of other research and work that has been done on the various topics that are discussed. This involves looking at hard data that has been conclused, as well as qualitative data like risk factors and examples of disasters.
"Third, additional studies are needed of interventions that aim to prevent or reduce symptoms of mental illness among disaster victims (42, 49). Although some interventions have been deemed efficacious in randomized controlled studies, effectiveness studies are needed to evaluate how well interventions work in the general population with practicing clinicians (38) and how well they prevent or reduce comorbid depression and substance use disorders..."
"The disaster context introduces additional methodological challenges, over and above the challenges that affect all studies of mental health, in four key areas: defining the target population, obtaining a representative sample of affected persons from this population, implementing an appropriate study design, and measuring key constructs"
"Psychological first aid (PFA) has become the preferred post-disaster intervention, with three goals: Secure survivors’ safety and basic necessities (e.g., food, medical supplies, shelter), which promotes adaptive coping and problem solving; reduce acute stress by addressing post-disaster stressors and providing strategies that may limit stress reactions; and help victims obtain additional resources that may help them cope and regain feelings of control."