Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event

Resources for State and Local Governments

State and local health departments should include mental health management in each phase of a disaster (pre-event, response, recovery, and evaluation).

Pre-Event Phase

Assess:

• Understand demographic and social characteristics. Identify the language needs and reading levels in your area.
• Build relationships with public health officials, community stakeholders, private and public medical providers, and school officials.
• Identify staff support policy and resources.
• Find behavioral health treatment facilities in your state.

Plan:

Response Phase

• First meet basic safety and security needs of target populations.
• Provide Psychological First Aid at response sites.
• Use risk communication principles in all messaging.
• Continue to monitor the mental health needs of victims and responders.
• Provide access to counselors in all appropriate languages.
• Distribute educational information appropriate to the event.
• Use triage system to connect victims in acute distress with professional services.
• Provide coping resources for responders and their families.

Recovery Phase

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• Continue to monitor mental health needs in the affected population.
• Train social and community leaders on how to help their groups cope.
• Give the community opportunities to come together.
• Promote availability of and ongoing need for coping and resources.
• Anticipate and plan to deal with trauma reminders (such as anniversaries of the event date, or the broadcast of similar incidents on the news).

Evaluation Phase

• Monitor for long-term mental stress in the community and for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Identify and address gaps in your mental health preparedness plan.

Additional Resources:

• Resources for Leaders to Help Communities Cope
• Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) program