NCJ Number
242950
Date Published
2012
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This disaster kit contains sample materials with tips and services on stress management and mental health services for victims and first responders involved in disasters.
Abstract
These materials are provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Materials for emergency and disaster response workers are intended for use before, during, and after disasters. Pamphlets and hand-outs address knowledge and assistance in managing stress; psychological "first aid;" and disaster training and technical assistance regarding behavioral health preparedness, response and recovery. A "Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters" is a "pocket reference" that provides guidance on the basics of disaster mental health, with numerous specific and practical suggestions for workers. Other pamphlets and hand-outs are intended for use by disaster victims and their family members and friends. They pertain to the warning signs and a hotline for suicide prevention, signs of maladaptive coping, a Disaster Distress Helpline, the federally sponsored Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP), and a catalog of Disaster Behavioral Health Resources. These resources encompass disaster behavioral health preparedness and response, emergency and disaster response workers, suicide prevention, and tip sheets for coping with disasters and emergencies. The hand-outs are in both English and Spanish. Contact information on SAMHSA disaster materials is provided.