Resources for Disaster Responders
- First Responders and Disaster Responders Resource Portal—This part of the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center website notes the stressors that may be involved in work as a responder, identifies signs of stress, and offers coping tips. The page features links to tip sheets, online trainings, and other resources related to responder mental health and freedom from substance use issues and conditions.
- A Guide to Managing Stress for Disaster Responders and First Responders—This SAMHSA guide is designed for first responders, public health workers, construction workers, transportation workers, utility workers, crisis counselors, and volunteers who respond to disasters and other crises. The guide provides information on how people experience stress; signs of extreme stress; and ways for organizations and individuals to manage and mitigate stress before, during, and after disaster response.
- Emergency Responders: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself—This online article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of responder self-care and presents steps responders can take before, during, and after deployment to manage stress and avoid burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Suggestions are provided for working with other responders on stress management and maintaining habits to support health and optimal functioning.
- Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide, 2nd Edition—Developed by the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), Psychological First Aid is an evidence-informed approach that disaster response workers can use to assist people in the immediate aftermath of disaster.
The NCTSN also provides a Spanish-language version of the Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide.
Also available: Psychological First Aid Manual.