Participating in disaster response takes many forms. The three main phases of response are to prepare, respond, and recover. Psychologists are not providing therapy at the disaster site to affected individuals; instead, they help those in disastrous situations build on their internal strengths and resilience. They offer support in a multitude of ways, depending on the needs of the affected communities and individuals. Psychologists take direction from the response agency they are working with to provide the best assistance and support.
Understanding the emergency response infrastructure
An important aspect of disaster mental health work is to become familiar with local, state, and federal emergency response systems.
- Get the appropriate disaster response training from an established emergency response organization.
- Always work through the appropriate emergency response systems.
Each locality, state, and/or territory has legal and operational resources available to respond to natural and man-made disasters. Understanding the scope and level of interaction between different agencies helps an organization prepare and respond to an incident. Each incident or declared emergency elicits a specific set of agency roles and responsibilities that impacts the functioning of the government and private sector, in addition to the lives of the general public.
At the state level, a set of statutory regulations exists to address emergency situations and guide state officials, such as the governor, director of homeland security, or the director of the appropriate emergency management agency, if the declaration of a state of emergency is warranted. Types of emergencies for which the power is granted are determined by individual state law and generally include broad terms such as “disasters,” “emergencies,” and/ or “public health emergencies.” Further, the type of emergency declared may trigger the activation of state response plans, emergency operation centers, and incident command systems to deliver aid and supplies and deploy personnel, equipment, and/ or technological assistance.
If the scope of the disaster necessitates a federal response and assistance to the states and localities, this may be authorized by the secretary of Health and Human Services or the president of the United States, with or without a declaration of federal emergency. Under these conditions, emergency provisions and services such as financial, personnel, logistical, and technical assistance may be granted per federal laws, or interagency agreements and coordination.
Psychologists looking for disaster response information on a state and local level can visit these websites:
Volunteer options, onsite or remote
Volunteers do not have to be present at a disaster site to provide disaster mental health support. There are several ways that you can be involved and participate from afar. Here are just a few of the different ways you can get involved, whether directly onsite at disaster, remotely, or through the phases of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
The three main phases of response
Prepare
- Register to volunteer with a disaster response agency so you are already on an organization’s volunteer list before disaster strikes.
- Participate in community disaster planning meetings, drills, and exercises.
- Teach disaster mental health courses to other psychologists and mental health professionals in your area.
- Serve as an expert for your community and state, provincial, and territorial psychological associations to help develop resources on disaster preparedness and coping with trauma.
Respond
- Offer disaster mental health support to survivors and response workers to enhance their resilience skills.
- Assist local and county emergency response agencies with disaster response operations. This could be through virtual volunteering, as some response organizations seek support through phone and web-based efforts.
- Be a virtual volunteer or screener from your home or office. This requires mental health providers with disaster response experience to screen potential, new volunteers to make sure they are fit for volunteer services.
- Be a resource to local media covering news stories on the psychological aspects of a disaster.
Recover
- Help community organizations with recovery needs and efforts.
- Offer psychoeducational programming to community groups on common challenges that occur months and years after disaster.
- Work with your state, provincial, or territorial psychological association to disseminate resources in your community to promote community support and building resilience.
