Exploring disaster preparedness for climate-driven Atlantic hurricanes for patients with severe mental illness

摘要: IntroductionCustomized disaster preparedness is an unmet need for patients with severe mental illness (SMI) in this era of compounding disasters. Climate change is making Atlantic hurricanes stronger and wetter, with a tendency to slow and stall along coastlines, resulting in more damaging storms that may disrupt access to healthcare and lifestyle routines for patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and members of their support networks. COVID-19—and future pandemic airborne diseases—add risk and complexity to evacuation and sheltering. Threats posed by this worsening risk landscape require tailored approaches to disaster preparedness for patients with SMI.MethodsWe are conducting a pilot survey with samples of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to examine hurricane experience, threat appraisal for this hurricane season, and adaptive actions to prepare for possible hurricane …