Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Drought- and Heat-Specific Information | Resources on Coping with Economic Stress
Rural Behavioral Health Resources | General Disaster Response

Drought- and Heat-Specific Information

Colorado State University Extension. (2012). Making decisions and coping well with drought. Retrieved from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/consumer/10256.pdf [PDF - 396.42 Kb]

This tip sheet discusses ways to cope with the psychological effects of a drought, and the difficult decisions it can cause.

Colorado State University Extension. (2012). Managing stress during tough times. Retrieved from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/consumer/10255.pdf [PDF - 445.53 Kb]

This tip sheet discusses the mental health effects of drought on rural populations.

Missouri Department of Mental Health. (2012). Tips for coping with drought-related stress. Retrieved from http://dmh.mo.gov/docs/diroffice/disaster/FarmStressCopingTips_001.pdf [PDF - 144.53 Kb]

This tip sheet provides common signs of stress and coping strategies for drought-related stress.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2012). Emergency preparedness and response: Extreme heat. Retrieved from http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat

This fact sheet lists ways to help recognize and respond promptly to warning signs during extreme heat.

HHS, CDC. (2012). When every drop counts: Protecting public health during drought conditions; A guide for public health professionals. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Docs/When_Every_Drop_Counts.pdf [PDF - 4.83 Mb]

This guide provides information about drought as it affects the health of the U.S. public. Behavioral health-related information is discussed in various sections of this document, particularly beginning on page 27.

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Resources on Coping with Economic Stress

American Psychological Association (APA). (n.d.). Staying resilient through tough economic times. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resilience-tough-economy.aspx

This fact sheet offers tips on how to handle stress in positive ways and tactics to help develop resilience through difficult economic times.

Missouri Department of Mental Health. (2012). TIPS for coping in difficult economic times. Retrieved from http://dmh.mo.gov/docs/diroffice/disaster/TipsEconomicTimes.pdf [PDF - 162 Kb]

This tip sheet discusses possible reactions to stress and suggestions for reducing stress during difficult economic times.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2012). Economic stress. Retrieved from http://www.nctsn.org/resources/topics/economic-stress

These fact sheets from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network discuss “challenging financial circumstances and economic hardships that can negatively affect youth, families, and communities. [The series] offers practical ways to address the challenges during economic hardships by improving a sense of safety, calming, self- and community efficacy, connectedness, and hope.”

• Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for Community Organizations and Leaders
  http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/coping_for_community_orgs.pdf [PDF - 1.02 Mb]
• Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for Parents
  http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/coping_for_parents_final.pdf [PDF - 647.72 Kb]
• Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for School Staff
  http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/copingschoolpersonnel_final.pdf [PDF - 1.44 Mb]
• Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for Youth
  http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/Coping_in_Hard_Times_For_Youth.pdf [PDF - 848.54 Kb]

NYU Child Study Center. (2009). Ten tips for families in tough times. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/ten-tips-families-tough-times

Published in February 2009, these tips can help guide families during difficult economic times.

HHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). (2009). Tips in a time of economic crisis.

SAMHSA created these tip sheets in response to increasing amounts of economic stress being reported by Americans (according to the 2008 APA report Stress in America). These resources include activities and strategies from mental health experts in the fields of resilience and stress management.

• “Managing Stress in Later Life”
  http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dbhis/pdf/SAMHSA_TipSheet_Later%20Life.pdf [PDF - 1.04 Mb]
• “Managing Your Stress”
  http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dbhis/pdf/SAMHSA_TipSheet_Manage%20Stress.pdf [PDF - 733 Kb]
• “Talking Dollars and Sense with Your Children”
  http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dbhis/pdf/SAMHSA_TipSheet_Money%20Children.pdf [PDF - 1.23 Mb]

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Rural Behavioral Health Resources

APA. (2005). The critical need for psychologists in rural America: Rural Americans are at risk for mental disorders & chronic illness. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/gr/education/rural-need.aspx

The APA provides information on the barriers that rural Americans face in accessing psychological care.

Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety. (2008). Managing the pressures of farming (fourth ed.). Retrieved from http://www.aghealth.org.au/pressures/pdfs/Farm_Family_Handbook.pdf [PDF - 933.46 Kb]  

This handbook contains three checklists that can be used to identify and manage the most difficult personal and business-related pressures of farming life.

Bean, T. L., & Nolan, J. A. (2008). Recognize and manage the stress of farm life. Retrieved from http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/pdf/0693.pdf [PDF - 168.81 Kb]

This tip sheet provides common signs of stress and coping strategies for farmers.

Bock, S., & Campbell, C. D. (2005). Crisis intervention in rural communities: A cultural catch-22. Journal of Rural Community Psychology, E8. Retrieved from http://www.marshall.edu/jrcp/8_1_Bock_Campbell.htm

This article describes the difficulties mental health practitioners face when providing mental health care in rural communities in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Recommendations for training local service personnel are provided as well as for increased cultural awareness among mental health practitioners in rural communities.

Bryant, D. H. (2009). Challenges of rural emergency management. Homeland1. Retrieved from http://www.homeland1.com/disaster-preparedness/articles/480917-Challenges-of-rural-emergency-management

This article discusses how the challenges of emergency management are different for rural communities than for urban ones.

A full transcript can be found at http://www.emforum.org/vforum/090211.htm.

Pierce, M. (2009, May). Recognize the signs of stress, depression. Dairy Herd Management, 24–26. Retrieved from http://mtt.cahs.colostate.edu/resources/documents/StressAnger0509DHM.pdf [PDF - 288.63 Kb]

This article discusses the signs of stress and depression, how to recognize them, and how to discuss them with the person showing the signs. It also provides a list of helpline numbers for each farming State.

Tootle, D. (2007). Disaster recovery in rural communities: A case study of Southwest Louisiana. Southern Rural Sociology, 22(2), 6–27. Retrieved from http://www.ag.auburn.edu/auxiliary/srsa/pages/Articles/SRS%202007%2022%202%206-27.pdf [PDF - 166.51 Kb]

This paper provides a descriptive case study to develop a better understanding of the disaster recovery and rebuilding process in the three counties in South Louisiana that were hardest hit by Hurricane Rita in 2005.

HHS, Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Rural Health Policy. (2011, June). Rural behavioral health programs and promising practices. Retrieved from http://www.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/pdf/ruralbehavioralmanual05312011.pdf [PDF - 861.70 Kb]

This document describes characteristics of programs identified as promising practices throughout the country. The descriptions of these programs can be found in Appendix C.

HHS, SAMHSA, CMHS. (1999). Disaster mental health: Crisis counseling programs for the rural community. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/FederalResource/Response/7-Crisis_Counseling_Rural_Communites.pdf [PDF - 1.74 Mb]

This SAMHSA publication addresses the unique qualities of rural communities in the context of a crisis counseling program. Guidelines are provided for developing an effective crisis counseling program for rural areas.

Viswanathan, K., Wizemann, T., & Altevogt, B. M. (2011). Preparedness and response to a rural mass casualty incident: Workshop summary. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK62389/pdf/TOC.pdf [PDF - 3.81 Mb]

Problems contacting emergency services and delayed assistance are not unusual when incidents occur in rural areas, and the consequences can be devastating, particularly with mass casualty incidents. This paper discusses a workshop that examined the current capabilities of emergency response systems and the future opportunities to improve mass casualty response in rural communities.

Williams, R., & Fetsch, R. (2006). Farm and ranch family stress and depression: A checklist and guide for making referrals. Retrieved from http://mtt.cahs.colostate.edu/current_issues/depression/Default.aspx

This web page offers a checklist to identify the signs and symptoms of stress and depression. It also presents ways to refer a person for help.

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General Disaster Response

APA. (2011, August). Managing traumatic stress: Tips for recovering from disasters and other traumatic events. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/recovering-disasters.aspx

This tip sheet discusses normal reactions to a disaster or traumatic event and the steps that can be taken to alleviate stress.

American Red Cross. (2009). Be Red Cross ready: Taking care of your emotional health after a disaster. Retrieved from http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240142_EmotionalHealth.pdf [PDF - 307 Kb]

This fact sheet explains normal reactions to a disaster, identifies what a survivor should do to cope, and indicates where to seek additional help if needed.

National Center for PTSD. (2007). Working with trauma survivors: What workers need to know. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/FederalResource/Response/21-Working_with_Trauma_Survivors.pdf [PDF - 43.2 Kb]

This tip sheet discusses the importance of understanding traumatic stress when working with trauma survivors.

National Center for PTSD. (2010, February). Mental health reactions after disaster. Retrieved from http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/handouts-pdf/Reactions.pdf [PDF - 87.8 Kb]

This handout provides information about normal stress reactions, other mental health problems that commonly occur following a disaster, and the recovery process.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013, April 21). Humanitarian aid workers. Retrieved from http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/relief-workers.aspx

This webpage provides health advice specific to the needs of relief workers responding to disasters. It was originally intended to address the needs of those responding to international disasters, but is also applicable to various domestic response situations. Those who provide assistance should pay attention to their mental health needs before, during, and after their work in the field.

HHS, SAMHSA, CMHS. (2007, April). Tips for survivors of a traumatic event: Managing your stress (HHS Publication No. NMH05-0209). Retrieved from http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//NMH05-0209R/NMH05-0209R.pdf [PDF - 926 Kb]

This tip sheet outlines the common signs of stress after a disaster and provides stress reduction strategies.

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Last updated 06/25/2013