Considering Cultural Diversity in Disaster Mental Health Planning and Crisis Management

Abstract

Psychological First Aid (PFA) and FEMA crisis counseling services (CCP) are becoming more prevalent for post-disaster mental healthcare, but they are intended only for short-term support. Many survivors will thus needlessly endure lengthy suffering from severe illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was established in 1979, most American communities developed emergency plans to provide survivors with medical care immediately following a disaster. Although calamities also emotionally traumatize about 20% of victims for long periods of time, few of these same communities have established preparedness plans for disaster mental health interventions. To offer maximum wellbeing, communities need to effectively assess and respond to the mental health needs seriously arising, as well as develop psychological preparedness plans that will immediately address further long-term problems from worsening natural and human-caused events.