Overview presentation for Community Mental Health Team Leaders Prepared by NS&CC MHDA 2011

1. Overview presentation for Community Mental Health Team Leaders Prepared by NS&CC MHDA 2011 (Acknowledgement: slides from a disaster response presentation by Professor Beverly Raphael were adapted in this overview)

2. A public health issue State Emergency Service brochure, South Australia

5. Hot weather is dangerous High temperatures are a threat to health, especially in summer and extreme heatwave conditions. Heat can affect consumers on psychotropic medications anticholinergic drugs impair sweating neuroleptic drugs impair thermoregulation. Early recognition of heat stroke and prompt treatment reduces mortality

6. Summer “Heat” Social Behaviours • Increased alcohol and drugs use – ‘water first’ preferable • Heat and violent behaviours • Motor vehicle accidents • Vulnerable youth – risk behaviours • Drownings • Heat-related stress – “tipping point” • “She’ll be right mate” attitudes

7. Signs and Symptoms of heat-related illness Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion • thirst, paleness and sweating • weakness and discomfort • rapid shallow breathing • muscle cramps • nausea and vomiting • dizziness or fainting • rapid heart rate Prevention strategies • cool, non-alcoholic drinks • resting out of the heat • cool shower, bath or sponge bath • wearing lightweight clothing • watch for inappropriate clothing in hot weather

8. Signs and Symptoms of heat-related illness Signs and symptoms of heat stroke (medical emergency) core body temperature > 40.5°C confusion or disorientation Red, hot, dry skin (no sweating) rapid pulse severe headache & dizziness & nausea possible loss of consciousness shallow, rapid breathing Management Encourage rapid cooling & Ambulance NSW

9. Risks for mental health consumers in extreme heat • Particular risk for those maintained on antipsychotic medications: • Recurrent heat-related health problems associated with antipsychotic treatment • set point of temperature regulation centre could be elevated by antidopaminergic effects of anti-psychotics e.g. phenothiazines and thioxanthenes • Neuroleptics may impair hypothalamic thermal regulatory pathways • Meta-analysis of risk from extreme heat: • increased risk with pre-existing psychiatric illness • Mortality: death rate tripled particularly if isolated, housebound (Bouchama et al Arch in Med 2007)

10. Suggested Mental Health Service Strategies • Identify vulnerable consumers • Encourage consumers to write self-care strategies in a wellness plan e.g. Use of fans, air conditioning, fluids, showers for prevention and treatment of heatstroke • Work to implement the care plan to budget and purchase appropriate curtains and fans etc prior to summer. Check consumers have keys for locking windows to be able to open for a cool breeze. • Contact charity organisations re curtains and fans if financial constraints for consumer • Check clients have a plan for power failures (high grid load in summer) • E.g. for essential medical equipment such as CPAP. • Consider partnership with NGO’s to provide support during summer

11. NS & CC MHDA resources • Guideline: Hot weatherpreparation and actions for mental health Consumers [a guideline for staff to assist consumers during hot weather and heat wave conditions 2011] • Brochure • Promotion materials • Poster • caps • drink bottles • fridge magnets

12. guideline Interim Hot weather preparation and actions for Mental Health consumers

16. Health promotion items

17. Capsprinted on the front with ‘HEATWAVE keep cool’

19. Fridge magnets with clipto attach brochure to fridge

20. Simple fridge magnets

21. Rationales of some decisions Logo was selected in a transparent style, as it cost $70 set up fee per colour – cheaper to use the colour of the product to colour the centre of the sun than pay to have it coloured. Hats were chosen in light colours that would be more dirt resistant than white or natural.