Part of SAMHSA’s Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) series, this handbook provides programs that treat people with mental and substance use disorders with information and tools for disaster planning.

This fact sheet provides information for disaster managers and planners about the challenges that women face in East Asia and the Pacific. The document highlights key findings, explains why women are at higher risk, and describes recommendations for best practices in the planning, decision-making, and implementation processes.

This 2-hour course covers the mental health effects disaster may have on survivors, including acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. It provides public health professionals with information about common mental health consequences of disasters, strategies in the immediate response to a disaster that can help with prevention of mental disorders, and public health approaches to post-disaster mental health.

inTransition is a voluntary coaching and support program designed to support military service members as they move between health-care systems or providers.

The Johns Hopkins Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Center has developed a variety of mental health preparedness trainings that are available online.

The authors assess the long-term psychological effects on civilians who were exposed to sulfur mustard gas. Many civilians reported emotional distress even 20 years after exposure.

TRICARE is the U.S. Department of Defense healthcare program for members of the uniformed services and their families. This website provides information about general health, services, and benefits.

HHS is the U.S. Government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

The MHBG provides funds to grantees states and U.S. territories to provide comprehensive, community-based mental health services to adults with serious mental illnesses and to children with Serious Emotional Disturbance and to monitor progress in implementing systems through which these services are provided.

Established in 1980 and housed at the University of North Dakota, the Center for Rural Health provides information on rural health policy, research, education, and community development.

This article discusses the increase in state and local government support for mental health first aid and suggests training employees to be instructors as a cost-effective way to train an agency.

This article provides a review and summary of four areas of grief that are important for psychiatrists: (1) uncomplicated (normal) grief, (2) complicated grief, (3) grief-related major depression, and (4) psychiatrist reactions to patient suicides. [Authors: Zisook, S., and Shear, K.]

This website provides information on Mental Health First Aid, including how to become certified by taking the interactive 12-hour course.

The National Institute of Mental Health website has overviews of a number of disorders related to trauma exposure, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and substance use disorders.

The At-Risk Individuals, Behavioral Health & Community Resilience Division aims to ensure that all affected by disaster have access to physical and mental health services. Their mission is to help those implementing emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities to integrate and involve people with access and functional needs and people with behavioral health conditions, and support community capacity to recover from disasters.

This online resource from SAMHSA allows users to search for mental illness and substance use disorder treatment services in their area. Responders may find it useful in finding services for themselves or their coworkers or in referring individuals to treatment. Searches can be limited by state, county, and distance from a specific location.

This web page provides definitions of serious mental illness (SMI), serious emotional disturbance (SED), and substance use disorders. It also features links to additional information about mental illness, SMI, SED, and substance use disorders in the United States.

This fact sheet discusses general principles for disaster mental health response, including the importance of identifying survivors with psychiatric disorders and providing them treatment. It also introduces frameworks for disaster mental health response, and case identification for posttraumatic stress disorder, the most common psychiatric disorder after disasters.

This issue brief is intended as a resource for healthcare professionals and administrators, public health officials, emergency planners, clergy, and their public and private sector partners who seek to identify key legal issues that may arise during and after emergencies related to substance misuse treatment. The brief provides general information and is not intended to offer jurisdiction-specific guidance.

This report outlines the burden of mental health problems globally, including their impact on substance use disorders. It contains suggestions on how to scale up mental health care in communities as well as resources for prevention.

This brief explores challenges faced by youth experiencing homelessness and defines trauma and related consequences, such as substance use, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. It includes treatment considerations for mental health and substance use disorder service and treatment professionals when working with youth experiencing homelessness who are coping with trauma or retraumatization.

This tip sheet describes how people with serious mental illness may experience and respond to disasters. It identifies ways in which people with serious mental illness are more vulnerable than others in disasters and problems they may face. It also offers tips for disaster planners and responders for helping people with serious mental illness and their families with disaster planning and in the aftermath of a disaster.

This web page describes disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, which occurs in children. It lists signs and symptoms and provides a link to an informational video. It also features information on risk factors, treatment and therapies, and how to find out more about participating in clinical trials.

This article presents an overview of how extreme weather events caused by climate change can cause increased stress and contribute to more serious mental health issues. It also identifies individuals who are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, including children and people with existing mental illness. Lastly, it considers the potential long-term mental health effects of climate change.

Although published in 2011, this article offers information that remains relevant about disaster planning for people with serious mental illness. The article discusses the importance of including people with mental illness in disaster preparedness and response, how people with mental illnesses may be more severely affected by disasters, and complications that can arise with care and medication during disasters.