Mental Health Considerations During a Pandemic Influenza Outbreak

The 1918 influenza pandemic was one of history’s most devastating outbreaks of an infectious disease. In the past several years, we have seen SARS, avian influenza, and now recently, H1N1 influenza causing much concern. As there has been no widespread influenza pandemic in recent times, we do not know how the affected population would respond. To address those concerns, we have developed a just-in-time (JIT) continuing medical education program with a grant from the California Department of Public Health. This article provides an overview of those training modules. We were fortunate to find survivors of the 1918 pandemic and interview them. Excerpts of those interviews are included in the modules. The modules are available online at no charge. CME/CE credits are available for a variety of health professionals. An instructor’s manual is available at no charge. This curriculum provides ready, available training at no cost for those interested in potential mental health response to pandemic influenza. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND PERMISSIONS The six training modules were developed under a grant from the State of California Department of Mental Health.