Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: Responder Behavioral Health
Disasters often strike with little or no warning. In an instant your home, community, and sense of well-being can be damaged, destroyed, and forever changed.
Planning for, and responding to, your communities and first responders' behavioral health needs after a natural disaster is a vital part of emergency response.
Previous exposure to large scale events, such as a severe flood, may place residents and responders who experience a new disaster at greater risk for adverse stress reactions.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline
Call or text 1-800-985-5990
Responding to an emergency situation can be both rewarding and taxing on individuals. First responders coming back from a prolonged deployment may face challenges adjusting to their normal routine. People may display symptoms and reactions such as:
- Emotional symptoms, such as irritability or excessive sadness.
- Cognitive dysfunction, such as difficulty making decisions or following directions.
- Physical symptoms, such as headache, stomach pain, or difficulty breathing.
- Behavioral reactions, such as consuming more alcohol or interpersonal conflict.
- Failure to adhere to needed physical or psychiatric medication needs.
Homeless Service Provider Forum
Created to improve collaboration among service providers, Wisconsin's Homeless Provider Forum allows providers to share and discuss guidance, best practices, and evidence-based tools to bridge the gap between homeless service systems and human service and public health systems.
Stress, worry, and fear for your family and for yourself are common responses during and after a disaster or public health emergency. Pay attention as to how you and your family members are feeling. Children can have a more difficult time understanding what has happened after a disaster. It is important to talk to them after a disaster and help them process the emergency.