Why Including a Behavioral Health Component to an Emergency Preparedness Plan is Critical

May 21, 2018

Behavioral health is an essential part of community resilience and recovery from traumatic events, after which individuals and first responders may experience a range of emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive responses. Individuals who had a mental illness (whether diagnosed or not) prior to the event may experience re-triggering or increased severity of symptoms, which could be exacerbated by decreased access to behavioral healthcare and/or medications following a disaster. While many individuals are resilient and will recover on their own, others may require additional support.

As the “boots on the ground” before, during, and after disasters, local health departments are uniquely positioned to help cultivate community resilience and help address the behavioral health impacts of disasters. Local health departments work alongside behavioral health providers, social service organizations, trained volunteers, and the federal government to ensure that individuals in their community can access behavioral health services before and after disasters, monitor the behavioral health impacts of disasters, share information and resources with the public, and direct those experiencing trauma to appropriate resources. Local health departments are also responsible for taking steps to ensure the health and safety of health department first responders, including identifying risks and monitoring responder behavioral health needs, facilitating training, and coordinating with partners to provide access to behavioral health services as needed [1].

While local health departments play a key role in addressing behavioral health concerns, they require strong partnerships with the broader public health, behavioral health, healthcare and emergency management communities to meet the needs of individuals with mental illness before and after disasters. Behavioral health should be included in all phases of preparedness planning, response, and recovery. One way that the preparedness community is formally engaging behavioral health in preparedness planning, training, and exercises is through healthcare coalitions. The National Association of County and City Health Officials’(NACCHO) 2018 Preparedness Profile Assessment found that about 60 percent of local health departments report that behavioral health providers are represented in their coalition [2]. NACCHO recommends that all coalitions include behavioral health providers. Further, about half of local health departments consider their partnership with behavioral health providers to be “good” or “excellent,” which is consistent with findings in 2015 and 2016 [3]. While this represents a significant investment in, and recognition of, the importance of disaster behavioral health, there is still room for improvement.

Mental/Behavioral Health Resources

NACCHO is committed to supporting local health departments in their efforts to work with partners to improve the behavioral health of their communities before, during, and after a disaster. Below is a list of disaster behavioral health resources compiled from a variety of sources for local health departments.

Trainings

Planning Resources

  • NACCHO’s Toolbox contains a variety of disaster behavioral health resources, including example disaster behavioral health response plans, recovery plans, tools and templates for family assistance centers and points of dispensing, and guidance around legal and ethical considerations for mental and behavioral health planning.
  • CDC has compiled planning resources for state and local governments to help them include mental health management throughout each phase of a disaster.
  • Mental Health All Hazards Disaster Planning Guidance provides direction and support for state and local mental health leaders as they create and/or revise all-hazards response plans (SAMHSA and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors).
  • Fact sheet: Tips for Health Care Practitioners and Responders: Helping Survivors Cope with Grief after a Disaster or Traumatic Event (SAMHSA).
  • NACCHO, in collaboration with the Northeast Texas Public Health District and El Paso Department of Public Health, developed two behavioral health videos designed for use in points of dispensing. Presented in English and Spanish, with closed captioning and on-screen American Sign Language interpretation, these videos are designed to help first responders, children, and the general public manage and cope with stress after disasters or traumatic events.
  • SAMHSA has developed several tip sheets that local health departments can share with the public on coping with grief and re-traumatization following a disaster or traumatic event.

Federal Resources and Technical Assistance

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). Public Health Emergency Preparedness Capabilities. Capability 14: Responder Safety and Health. Accessed on May 15, 2018 from https://www.cdc.gov/phpr/readiness/00_docs/DSLR_capabilities_July.pdf

[2] National Association of County and City Health Officials (2018). 2018 Preparedness Profile Assessment. Unpublished raw data.

[3] National Association of County and City Health Officials (2018). 2018 Preparedness Profile Assessment. Unpublished raw data.


Related Posts

Wastewater plant2
  • Infectious Disease Wastewater

Fostering Local Wastewater Monitoring Network...

FLoW-Net is now open to all Local Health Departments.

Feb 05, 2025 | Nikita Kheni

Fostering Local Wastewater Monitoring Network...

Webinar
  • Webinar

FEMA Hosts Webinar on Using Exercise and Incident Data...

Webinar series runs February 10-18.

Feb 04, 2025

FEMA Hosts Webinar on Using Exercise and Incident Data...

Webinar
  • Webinar Radiation Preparedness

FEMA Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Lunch...

Webinar series begins February 20; concludes March 13.

Jan 28, 2025

FEMA Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Lunch...

Fire 600
  • Tools & Resources

Collaborating with First Responders: Building Stronger...

Collaboration between local health departments and first responders is crucial...

Jan 28, 2025 | Nikita Kheni

Collaborating with First Responders: Building Stronger...

Inventory Managment 600
  • Call for Comments Emergency Response Medical Countermeasures Information Technology

Share Your Feedback on Inventory Management of Public...

Complete the assessment by February 21, 2025

Jan 22, 2025 | Shannon Duffy, Jessica Pryor, Gelilawit Tamrat

Share Your Feedback on Inventory Management of Public...

Wildfire
  • Tools & Resources

Updated FEMA Advisory: FEMA Determination Letters

FEMA updates related to Los Angeles wildfire survivor request for assistance.

Jan 16, 2025

Updated FEMA Advisory: FEMA Determination Letters

MRC World First Aid Day 600
  • Medical Reserve Corps

Medical Reserve Corps Unit Shares Volunteer Retention...

Lear volunteer retention strategies from the City of Detroit Medical Reserve...

Jan 15, 2025 | Beth Hess

Medical Reserve Corps Unit Shares Volunteer Retention...

Wildfire
  • Tools & Resources

FEMA Offers Recovery Tips for California Wildfire...

Recovery resources for individuals and families following the California...

Jan 14, 2025

FEMA Offers Recovery Tips for California Wildfire...

PS25 600
  • Community Resilience Emergency Response Leadership Medical Reserve Corps

2025 Prep Summit Early-Bird Rates Extended

Register by January 31, 2025, to save.

Dec 20, 2024 | Beth Hess

2025 Prep Summit Early-Bird Rates Extended

Back to Top