The Dialogue: Helping People with Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders During Disasters

The Dialogue: Helping People with Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders During Disasters

Helping People with Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders During Disasters Over the past few years, people across the United States have dealt with disasters of various sizes such as category 5 hurricanes, mass shootings, and wildfires. Most people touched by a disaster, whether directly or indirectly, are affected in some way. Many disaster survivors are able to move on and cope with the “new normal” of life after a disaster, while others may find their situation harder to handle. Preexisting conditions such as a history of serious mental illness (SMI) or a substance use disorder (SUD) may play a role in the ease of their recovery. This special double issue of The Dialogue from the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) highlights the process of assisting disaster survivors with SMI and/or SUDs after a disaster. Authors share their knowledge on how these individuals may need additional support to aid their recovery after a disaster and how to provide better assistance. Has your program had success working with disaster survivors with SMI or SUDs? Do you have suggestions or lessons learned from your experiences? Please email your experiences to us at dtac@samhsa.hhs.gov. We’ll print selected reader comments in a future issue of The Dialogue. Download the Full Issue [PDF – 7.6 MB]

Issue Highlights Caring for People With Mental Illness in Disasters Individuals living with SMI often function well after a disaster, helping others and themselves during a chaotic time. However, those living with SMI may not be as prepared for a sudden disaster and may have a more extreme reaction when exposed to the sudden stress or trauma. Disaster planning and response by relevant public and private entities can help alleviate these negative reactions and address the needs of individuals with SMI. Activating Legal Mechanisms in a Disaster May Help Meet the Temporary Needs of Individuals With Substance Use Issues Both governments and communities should be prepared for disasters, especially as they affect the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Including legal preparedness as a part of disaster planning can help meet the needs of individuals with SMI or SUDs more effectively after a disaster. The Lingering Effect of Natural Disasters on Drug and Alcohol Use Natural disasters can have a lasting effect on the individuals who experience them. Research has shown that people tend to turn to the use of drugs and alcohol to cope in times of crisis or extreme stress. Learn more about what public health professionals can do to prepare and provide disaster behavioral health services to those who may need it. U.S. Virgin Islands Recovery The U.S. Virgin Islands experienced a destructive hurricane season in 2017. Many damaged homes across the territory remain abandoned or temporarily unavailable. Learn more about the recovery process occurring in the U.S. Virgin Islands and how the mental health of individuals on the islands has been affected. Missouri Planning Activities Around SMI and Disasters Since 2000, Missouri has received 31 major disaster declarations. Following each event, the state conducts after-action reviews to improve their response efforts and document lessons learned within their plans. Learn more about how the state plans and prepares to work with people with SMI after disasters. Strength Through Connection: Disaster Behavioral Health Training in Puerto Rico This interview describes an upcoming SAMHSA-supported disaster behavioral health training in Puerto Rico. The training focuses on the effect trauma has on the brain and how disaster behavioral health professionals can use this information to assist in the recovery of communities affected by disaster. Recommended Resources National Center for PTSD: The Effects of Disaster on People with Severe Mental Illness This article from the National Center for PTSD reviews research on how individuals with SMI may react to a disaster. It covers the likelihood that people with SMI will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as how disasters and war may affect people with SMI. The article also describes ways mental health professionals can meet the needs of individuals with SMI. Psychological First Aid: Alcohol and Drug Use after Disasters This handout from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network discusses the potential for substance use and misuse after a disaster in an effort to relieve negative feelings and symptoms. It also explains the importance of choosing to stay in recovery for individuals that have had substance use issues in the past. Tips on how to maintain recovery include increasing attendance at support groups and talking to loved ones about providing extra support. Creating Safe Scenes Training Course This course provides information to help first responders ensure safety for all involved in calls in which an individual is in crisis related to a mental illness or SUD. The course covers signs and symptoms of specific mental and SUDs, risk assessment, and de-escalation techniques. NAMI: Navigating a Mental Health Crisis This guide from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) describes mental illness and mental health crises and offers steps to take if a crisis occurs. An individual may experience a mental health crisis because of a variety of stressors, including trauma and exposure to violence. This guide provides techniques to help de-escalate a crisis, details of a medical or law enforcement response, and more. Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Field Guide This manual from the SAMHSA Store aids disaster response workers in assisting survivors after an act of terrorism or mass violence. It has a section on individuals with SMI and their potential need for additional support after a traumatic experience. 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. The views, opinions, and content expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).