Mental / Behavioral Health

A fact-sheet for parents and caregivers about infectious disease outbreaks in your community. Knowing important information about the outbreak and learning how to be prepared can reduce stress and help calm likely anxieties.

This resource will help parents and caregivers think about how an infectious disease outbreak might affect their family— both physically and emotionally—and what they can do to help their family cope.

• Download the Fact Sheet

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has updated its resources on substance use disorders and disasters. The resources include brochures and tip sheets to help disaster survivors avoid increasing alcohol and drug use, a mobile app to guide health care practitioners in medication-assisted treatment, screening tools, fact sheets and manuals on helping people with addictions.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed approach that is built on the concept of human resilience. PFA aims to reduce stress symptoms and assist in a healthy recovery following a traumatic event, natural disaster, public health emergency, or even a personal crisis.

• Visit the Minnesota Department of Health Psychological First Aid resource page.
• Visit the Evidence Aid resource page

In a disaster, it’s essential that behavioral health responders have the resources they need—when and where they need them. The SAMHSA Disaster App makes it easy to provide quality support to survivors. Users can navigate pre-deployment preparation, on-the-ground assistance, post-deployment resources, and more—at the touch of a button from the home screen. Users also can share resources, like tips for helping survivors cope, and find local behavioral health services. And, self-care support for responders is available at all stages of deployment.

• Get more information about the SAMHSA Disaster App

This easy-to-use pocket guide focuses on general principles of stress management and offers simple, practical strategies that can be incorporated into the daily routine of crisis response professionals. It also provides a concise orientation to the signs and symptoms of stress.

The ongoing threat of both natural and human-caused disasters makes it imperative that we support and encourage the brave men and women who prepare for and respond to these events—our crisis response professionals.

These professionals include first responders, public health workers, construction workers, transportation workers, utilities workers, volunteers, and a multitude of others.

While every situation is unique, this document provides some basic tools that can inspire and spread optimism and point the way to effective stress management.

Download the Response Guide

In the aftermath of the devastating tornado in Oklahoma, people will need mental health support as much as medical support.

It’s crucial to help medical professionals, first responders, family members, and victims both administer or receive the proper psychological first aid.

This mental health awareness toolkit provides first responders—whether they are disaster response workers, parents, caregivers, or teachers—with specific tips for responding effectively to people in the wake of a disaster.

The information is meant to help alleviate painful emotions and promote hope and healing.

• Call 1-800-662-4357
• Get the Disaster Response Kit

• Provider Resources
• Assessment Tools
• Understanding Patient Perceptions
• Quick Interventions
• Fast Facts: What Providers Need to Know
• Fast Facts: What Providers Can Do
• Patient Education Materials
• Self Care for Providers
• Online Education for Nurses
• Online Education for Doctors
• Resources for Parents and Children
• Fast Facts: Research and Summaries

More information and resources

The effect of a disaster or traumatic event goes far beyond its immediate devastation. Just as it takes time to reconstruct damaged buildings, it takes time to grieve and rebuild our lives. Life may not return to normal for months, or even years, following a disaster or traumatic event. There may be changes in living conditions that cause changes in day- to-day activities,
leading to strains in relationships, changes in expectations, and shifts in responsibilities.

• Access this publication from SAMHSA

When you work with people during and after a disaster, you are working with peole who may be having reactions of confusion, fear, hopelessness, sleeplessness, anxiety, grief, shock, guild, shame and loss of confidence.

• Obtain this resource from samhsa.gov