The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers a toll-free hotline for people in crisis. Trained counselors will be available to assist a caller.
Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions that many people may experience after a disaster. A nationwide team of crisis counseling experts are available to help people through their grief and loss.
The network is run by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and involves more than 110 certified crisis centers.
People who are in emotional distress or suicidal can call at any time from anywhere in the nation to talk to a trained worker who will listen to and assist callers in getting the mental health help they need. People will be provided with immediate access to local resources, referrals and expertise.
call the National Crisis Hotline 1-800-273-TALK 1-800-273-8255 |
The purpose of the crisis counseling program is to help relieve any grieving, stress, or mental health problems caused or aggravated by the disaster or its aftermath. These short-term services, provided by FEMA through state and local mental health agencies, are only available to eligible survivors of Presidentially-declared major disasters.
Those who want this confidential service should inquire about it while registering for disaster assistance. Or they may contact FEMA's toll-free Helpline number 1-800-621-FEMA to find out where these services can be obtained. Crisis counselors are often on-hand at Disaster Recovery Centers.
Eligible survivors may also learn more about where crisis counseling services are available via the media, and FEMA's Recovery Times newsletters.
Crisis counseling services are also offered by the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, other voluntary agencies, as well as churches and synagogues. Additional mental health information may be found on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Mental Health Services' website.
If you want to contact a local mental health professional, contact your local mental health agency or access the Mental Health Services Locator at 1-800-789-2647.
You don't have to do this alone. There are people ready to help you make it through this.
Remember, many people will experience emotional consequences after living through a disaster. These are normal. Ignoring them, hoping that they will go away, or numbing them tends to make them worse over time.
Don't expect that you need to recover in a certain amount of time. Emotional consequences which occur after a traumatic experience are different for each individual. Many people may not experience these feelings until after survival issues such as safety, food, power, and shelter are adequately managed.
Create a comfortable routine for yourself and your family. Even if you are not able to go to work or school, get up, get dressed and plan activities and tasks for the day.
Talk about how you feel and what has happened. Encourage your family, friends and others to do the same.
Take advantage of assistance that is available from all sources. Research has shown that those who do not use this assistance recover more slowly.
Don't hesitate to ask for help. Many people will be seeking services from counselors, ministers, psychologists, etc. Remember to select these helpers carefully and ask them about their experience with survivors of trauma and disaster.
Understand that emotional recovery is much like rebuilding. It takes much more time than you expect and the new building is never exactly the same as the one it replaces.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has developed a list of post-disaster signs that may indicate that a person might need crisis counseling or stress management assistance:
Remember, having one or more of these signs does not necessarily mean there is a problem. However, living through a disaster event can be very traumatic. The recovery process can also be stressful. There is help available. You are not alone. Don't be hesitant to ask for free confidential help.
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