A pro-bono service of the American Psychological Association and its members

Disasters have had a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of Americans. Their losses are, many times, unfathomable: homes, communities, jobs and sometimes, loved ones. As individuals and communities begin to pick up the pieces of their lives, they oftentimes neglect the need for mental health care, something that disaster survivors desperately need at a time when they can least afford it financially. If left untreated, these needs can develop into chronic problems that are disabling to people in both their professional and personal lives.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological disorder that can arise after any disaster or crisis situation. Those suffering from PTSD can have trouble functioning in their jobs or personal relationships. Children can be traumatized and have difficulty in school, become isolated from others and develop phobias. Psychological intervention immediately following the traumatic incident can help minimize long-term, chronic psychological consequences.

The American Psychological Association developed its Disaster Response Network (DRN) in response to this need. Over 1,500 psychologist volunteers provide free, onsite mental health services to disaster survivors and the relief workers who assist them.

In December l991, APA became the first national mental health organization to sign a Statement of Understanding with the American Red Cross to work collaboratively to provide free mental health services to disaster victims and relief workers. Since its official unveiling in August l992 as APA's centennial gift to the nation, our network members have worked hand-in-hand with the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state emergency management teams and other relief groups on every major disaster our country has experienced and many smaller disasters, too.

The mental health needs of the national disasters have been monumental. For example, over 200 DRN psychologists assisted the Red Cross in helping 35,000 survivors of Hurricane Andrew alone. In addition to the short-term crisis intervention services it offers survivors, the network helps them to identify local resources for ongoing psychological assistance.

Our long-term goals are to continue providing necessary short-term crisis services following disasters, to eventually train the entire network in a national, crisis intervention course and to expand the network. Plans for expansion of the network not only include recruitment of new members but also expansion into areas that are harder to reach where needs exist but are not being met.