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Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series Resource Center
The SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) provides various resources and useful information for those in the disaster behavioral health field.
All resources for which links are provided are in the public domain or have been authorized for noncommercial use. Hardcopies of some materials may be ordered. If you use content from resources in this collection in program materials, you should acknowledge the source of the materials. Nothing in these other than SAMHSA resources constitutes a direct or indirect endorsement by SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of any non-federal entity’s products, services, or policies.
Did you know you can download your search results? Simply apply search filters and then click on the Download Filtered Resources link to obtain a .csv file with the resources you have found, including each resource’s name, description, date, URL, and source.
This web page provides information for staying safe during different natural disaster and severe weather events, such as earthquakes, extreme heat, floods, and more. It includes links to tips and resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from each disaster type. Description: This resource is also available in English.
This website from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides information, guidance, and resources for individuals and communities preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disaster and emergency events. It includes resources for various age groups and provides tips for creating an effective individual and family disaster plan.
This website from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides information, guidance, and resources for individuals and communities preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disaster and emergency events. It includes resources for various age groups and provides tips for creating an effective individual and family disaster plan.
This web page provides disaster planners and leaders with information and tools for creating a hazard mitigation plan that addresses both the possible impacts of climate crises and the extreme events particular to their local areas. From exploring best practices to learning about current laws and policies, web page resources are designed to help states, territories, and tribal governments build effective mitigation plans.
At this web page, DHS details First Responder Capability, a program dedicated to providing first responders with technical assistance and inventive solutions to challenges caused by the nature of their jobs. The web page provides information on grants and training, fact sheets, and additional topical research and resources.
This resource from FEMA provides culturally competent and tribal-focused guidance for tribal governments seeking assistance pursuing disaster response and recovery planning. Designed for tribal government leadership and stakeholders, the guide includes steps for designing disaster plans that meet the unique needs of a tribal community.
This web page from FEMA provides information regarding disaster planning and recovery for tribal governments in collaboration with federal and state emergency management agencies. It includes guidance for tribal governments interested in seeking assistance after receiving a disaster declaration, background information on FEMA tribal policies, and tools for pursuing disaster planning, mitigation, and funding assistance.
This web page from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provides guidance for American Indian and Alaska Native people seeking behavioral health information and support. It explains the importance of behavioral health and provides tools for users to learn about substance use disorders, explore tribal behavioral health coverage, and prepare for a behavioral health appointment.
This web page details pet disaster planning and preparation. The web page describes how to devise a disaster plan that includes the needs of pets; how to build a pet disaster kit; and additional considerations for large animals, such as horses, goats, and pigs.
This web page discusses the risk factors for distress after a mass violence event. The page also discusses what to do in lockdown situations, signs of distress, how to get help when needed, and additional resources.
Provided by the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline, this web page offers information on the warning signs of emotional distress after an individual has experienced a natural or human-caused disaster. Warning signs are broken down by age category for children, teens, and adults. Also identified are risk factors, including chronic psychological disorders, some of which are serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance.
This web page explores behavioral health equity and its importance in reducing health disparities and promoting the provision of high-quality healthcare services for all. It features several populations of focus, including American Indians/Alaska Natives, Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and more, to emphasize the need for equitable and accessible health care.
This web page summarizes the effect traumatic events can have on individuals and provides strategies for relieving and addressing traumatic stress. It links to resources that explore different forms and reactions to traumatic events such as mass violence, resources to support children and families, and tips for individuals seeking further support.
The ERHMS™ framework provides ideas for protecting disaster and emergency responders in an emergency of any size and in any setting. Designed for incident command staff members, leaders in response organizations, healthcare professionals, and responders themselves, the framework can be used to develop and implement a plan for monitoring and surveillance of responder health before, during, and after deployment.
This web page provides parents and caregivers with recommendations for supporting their child’s return to school after experiencing a tragedy, which can include mass violence incidents. It includes guidance for supporting children’s feelings, emphasizing school safety, and seeking further assistance if needed to ensure students’ comfort and resilience.
This web page clarifies and details understanding grief and the grieving process after the death of a pet. It reviews how different age groups, including seniors and children, grieve the loss of a pet, and includes tips for coping with grief experienced when a pet dies. It further links to additional external resources to aid in the grieving process.
Through this center, SAMHSA provides training and technical assistance to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities, tribal SAMHSA grantees, and individuals and organizations who work with AI/AN people. Topics include mental health promotion, suicide prevention, and mental and substance use disorders. The center’s website provides information and links to print materials, websites, and webinars.
To support caregivers or others tending to children, this web page from SAMHSA explains the effects of traumatic events—such as natural disasters or community violence—on children. It provides a breakdown of possible reactions shown by children of different ages as well as tips for supporting children who have experienced traumatic stress.
This online article includes information on how a parent’s posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms can affect his or her children. It describes some of the common child responses to those symptoms and offers guidance regarding what a parent should do when faced with this situation.
This web page provides a pet-tailored disaster preparedness kit, detailing the necessity of maintaining important pet documents, food, water, and medications, as well as pet memorabilia. The web page also includes a fillable document for pet owners to use when opting for boarding services for their pets during a disaster.
This web page provides parents and caregivers with recommendations for supporting their child’s return to school after experiencing a tragedy, which can include mass violence incidents. It includes guidance for supporting children’s feelings, emphasizing school safety, and seeking further assistance if needed to ensure students’ comfort and resilience.
This page provides a frequently updated listing of mental and behavioral health service professionals that offer services for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). The listing includes practitioners throughout the United States, including information such as language options, contact information, and addresses.
Ready is a national campaign designed to educate Americans and help them prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural and human-caused disasters. This section of the Ready website features information and games for children, family preparedness tools for parents and other caregivers, and tools and a curriculum for teachers to make schools safer and educate children and teens about emergency preparedness.
The Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant provides funds and technical assistance to all 50 states, as well as a wide range of U.S. territories and a tribal entity. Grantees use the funds to plan, implement, and evaluate activities that prevent and treat substance use and promote public health. Although the program is noncompetitive, it runs on a 1-year term, and eligible entities must submit an application annually.
Designed for military service members, this web page discusses signs of distress and suicidal thoughts and encourages readers to get help when they feel suicidal or unsafe or are in crisis. It also identifies sources of additional information and support.