The Dialogue: Responding to Ebola

Responding to Ebola: Lessons Learned on Managing Fear and Fostering Resilience In 2014, the world watched as Ebola spread throughout West Africa, especially hitting communities in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. Anxieties about infection were high, especially when a confirmed case of Ebola was diagnosed in Dallas, Texas. This issue of The Dialogue from SAMHSA's Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) provides a look inside responses to Ebola, in Liberia and in the United States. It focuses on emotions responders experienced, how they coped, and groups and programs to increase responder resilience. Do you have a story about Ebola in the United States or in West Africa and how it affected you or your colleagues? In a new feature of The Dialogue, we'll print select reader responses. Please share your experience via email to DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov. Download the Full Issue [PDF - 5 MB] Issue Highlights Ebola in Africa: Q&A With a U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps Officer USPHS Commander Jamie Seligman answers questions about his experience and lessons learned in Liberia during the Ebola crisis. A Public Health Approach to Resilience USPHS Commissioned Corps officers describe efforts to support resilience during a USPHS deployment to stand up and operate an Ebola Treatment Unit in Monrovia, Liberia, during the Ebola crisis. Efforts included implementation of a Behavioral Health Operations Group and programs to enhance resilience. Firsthand Experience: U.S. Disaster Behavioral Health Response to Ebola The owner of a managed care organization in Dallas, Texas, relates his experience providing services for an individual who was quarantined after one of the few cases of exposure to Ebola in the United States. Recommended Resources Behavioral Health Response to Ebola Webcast In 2014, four health care providers in Dallas, Texas, responded to the high-stress situation of supporting a quarantined individual who was homeless during the Ebola outbreak. In this webcast, they share their lessons learned and emphasize the importance of coordinating and integrating behavioral health into disaster preparedness and response plans. Immediate Disaster Response—Ebola Outbreak in 2014 This installment of SAMHSA's Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series focuses on the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus. Behavioral health professionals can use these resources to help plan and prepare for future infectious disease outbreaks. It also contains links to organizations, agencies, and other resources that address Ebola planning, preparedness, and response. Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health During an Infectious Disease Outbreak This tip sheet explains social distancing, quarantine, and isolation in the event of an infectious disease outbreak, such as Ebola. It discusses feelings and thoughts that may arise during this time and suggests ways to cope and support yourself and loved ones during such an experience. Talking With Children During Infectious Disease Outbreaks This tip sheet equips parents, caregivers, and teachers with tips for helping children manage their stress during an infectious disease outbreak. It explains reactions children—preschool age to adolescence—may have and the support adults can provide to help them. Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks This tip sheet offers practical ways people can cope with stress during an outbreak of an infectious disease. It explains common signs of stress and how to recognize when to get help.

About The Dialogue The Dialogue, a quarterly technical assistance journal, is an arena for professionals in the disaster behavioral health field to share information, resources, trends, solutions to problems, and accomplishments. Read previous issues of The Dialogue.