The list of resources below are intended to provide you and your community with information that may be useful during traumatic events. Keep in mind that traumatic events can vary across communities, but can include; natural disasters (i.e. wildfires, earthquakes, flooding), mass casualty events (i.e. mass shootings, bombings), and local large-scale emergencies (i.e. train derailment).
American Red Cross
Disasters can bring about significant stress. While many people have experience coping with stressful events, it is common to experience a variety of reactions following a disaster. The American Red Cross has developed this informational resource to assist in recognizing emotional health issues following a disaster.
Disaster Distress Helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) provides crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S. experiencing distress or other behavioral health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Calls (1-800-985-5990) and texts (text “TalkWithUs” to 66746) are answered by a network of independently-operated crisis centers around the country, who provide psychological first aid, emotional support, crisis assessment and intervention, and referrals to local/state behavioral health services for follow-up care & support. The DDH is a program of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) administered by the not-for-profit & National VOAD Associate Member Vibrant Emotional Health (formerly MHA-NYC).
SAMHSA Disaster App
In a disaster, it’s essential that behavioral health responders have the resources they need—when and where they need them. The SAMHSA Disaster App makes it easy to provide quality support to survivors. Users can navigate pre-deployment preparation, on-the-ground assistance, post-deployment resources, and more—at the touch of a button from the home screen. Users also can share resources, like tips for helping survivors cope, and find local behavioral health services. And, self-care support for responders is available at all stages of deployment.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Managed by Vibrant Emotional Health (formerly MHA of NYC), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 988.
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7 text-enabled crisis line that allows individuals in crisis to connect via text to a trained crisis counselor. As national partners, MHA and Crisis Text Line, developed a unique keyword to track individual usage. This allows MHA National to receive access to unique data about the individuals that are accessing the service using our keyword. To access the service, an individual can text MHA to 741741 from any text-enabled device.