This guide provides staff with knowledge and strategies to best support diverse rural communities. It considers risk factors, strengths, and common disaster reactions unique to rural communities to support best practices for ensuring disaster resilience and recovery.
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This Technical Assistance Publication (TAP), updated in 2021, provides guidance for behavioral health service and substance use disorder treatment programs wanting to develop or update a comprehensive, scalable, and flexible disaster plan. It addresses planning needs specific to programs that offer prevention services, outpatient or residential treatment, medically supervised withdrawal, and pharmacotherapy.
In a disaster, it's essential that behavioral health responders have the resources they need—when and where they need them. The free SAMHSA Disaster App offers first responders immediate access for any type of traumatic event at every phase of response, including pre-deployment preparation, on-the-ground assistance and post-deployment resources.
With the SAMHSA Disaster App, first responders can:
- Access resources including tip sheets; guides for responders, teachers, parents, and caregivers; and a directory of behavioral health service providers in the impacted area.
- Download information on your phone before deployment in case of limited Internet connectivity in the field.
- Review key preparedness materials to help you provide the best support possible.
- Send information to colleagues and survivors via text message, email, or transfer to a computer for printing.
- Find interventions to help survivors of infectious disease epidemics.
Find SAMHSA’s disaster response information as a publication. Download the SAMHSA Disaster Kit.
For more information, email SAMHSA at samhsainfo@samhsa.hhs.gov
This guide enhances cultural competence when serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It covers regional differences, cultural customs, spirituality, communication styles, the role of veterans and older adults, and health disparities.
This manual guides disaster response workers in assisting survivors of mass violence and terrorism and their families. It discusses basic counseling skills, when to refer to mental health services, populations with special needs, and stress prevention and management for workers.
This manual helps mental health professionals build an emergency preparedness program in response to mass violence and terrorism. It includes background information, key concepts in mental health intervention, and guidance for setting up a training course.
This field manual offers mental health and public health professionals information on disaster preparedness and recovery to assist disaster survivors. It describes survivor reactions, at-risk populations, counseling, referrals, and stress prevention and management.