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.

This tip sheet discusses ways to cope with the psychological effects of a drought and the difficult decisions it can cause and provides guidance in family decision-making related to drought.

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

The NDMC helps people and institutions develop and implement measures to reduce societal vulnerability to drought, stressing preparedness and risk management rather than crisis management. Their website includes a section to help children better understand drought.

FEMA is the U.S. Government’s principal agency charged with building and supporting the Nation’s emergency management system.

The National Drought Mitigation Center helps people and institutions develop and implement measures to reduce societal vulnerability to drought, stressing preparedness and risk management rather than crisis management. This web page focuses on helping children better understand drought.

This web page offers information on how to help preschoolers during times of drought. It discusses drought-related situations that may cause stress for preschoolers, as well as how to recognize if they are experiencing stress. Lastly, it provides tips for what parents and other caregivers can do to help children understand the drought and address their stress and fears.

This web page provides information on the different types of drought and how to conserve water.

This resource is a map released each week showing levels of drought across the country, as well as areas that are abnormally dry and may be entering or emerging from drought. The Drought Monitor website includes current and past maps, data visualizations, the weekly summary of drought conditions across the nation, and forecast and outlook information.

Provided by the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline, this web page gives an overview of the effects droughts may have. It lists the signs of emotional distress related to drought and who may be most at risk of experiencing them. Lastly, it provides resources and information on where to get help.

Individuals and families can use this web page to prepare themselves and their homes for a drought. It provides tips for conserving indoor and outdoor water before and during a drought, as well as links to related resources and organizations.

This web page offers general drought information, including several ways to define drought. It also describes water restrictions and presents measures people can take indoors and outdoors to conserve water.

This website outlines ways in which drought can affect the mental health of communities. It also includes links to resources to help people cope with the psychological effects of drought.

This web page discusses the nature of stress related to a drought and identifies members of farming and rancher families who may experience higher levels of stress than others. It also provides strength-based strategies for what farmers and ranchers can do to manage stress and when to seek help from a professional.

This web page links to several resources focusing on drought and the drought-related health issues that individuals and families may experience. Resources cover topics including coping with stress, helping children and youth cope, and family financial management in the context of risk and experience of drought.

Public health professionals can use this guide to aid their efforts in preparing for a drought. The guide includes five modules covering topics such as conducting a vulnerability assessment, communicating drought preparedness and response strategies, and finding funding for preparedness and response efforts.

This article describes the issues farmers may face during a drought. It describes signs of stress, and ways that farmers can help reduce the burden of the drought. Topics include working together as a family and money management. It also identifies signs of the need for help from a mental health professional.

This infographic provides an overview of why drought is a major concern in the United States. It also discusses how drought can affect human health, including mental health, as well as its effects on the environment.

According to its online description, the objectives of the Rural Healthy People 2010 project are to employ a survey of State and local rural health leaders to identify rural health priorities, to synthesize available research and other publications on these priorities, to identify and describe models for practice employed by rural communities to address these priorities, and to disseminate this information to rural communities.

The RIC, according to its website, provides services for rural communities, local officials, organizations, business, and rural citizens working to maintain the vitality of America’s rural areas. The RIC website contains links to current information on a wide variety of rural resources.

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