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Disaster Behavioral Health

Darrin DonatoSenior Policy AnalystU.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)Office for Policy and Planning (OPP)Division for At-Risk Individuals, Behavioral Health, and Community Resilience (ABC)Phone: 202-245-0758darrin.donato@hhs.gov

United States Department ofHealth & Human ServicesOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

ASPR: Resilient People. Healthy Communities. A Nation Prepared.10/2/20140Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)HHS ASPR was created under the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act in the wake of Katrina to lead the nation in preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the adverse health effects of public health emergencies and disasters. Web site: US Department of HHS's Public Helath Emergency Website

ASPR: Resilient People. Healthy Communities. A Nation Prepared.ASPR OPP Division for At-Risk Individuals, Behavioral Health, & Community Resilience (ABC)Mission: Provide subject matter expertise, education, and coordination to internal and external partners to ensure that the functional needs of at-risk individuals and behavioral health issues are integrated in the public health and medical emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities of the nation to facilitate and promote community resilience and national health security.Email: abc.info@hhs.gov http://www.phe.gov/abc Phone: 202-260-1229

Key Responsibilities:

Policy guidance

Providing expertise & technical assistance

Interagency coordination

Regarding:At-risk Individuals

Behavioral Health

Community ResilienceASPR: Resilient People. Healthy Communities. A Nation Prepared.Disaster Behavioral HealthDisaster behavioral health refers to mental health, substance abuse, and stress management needs and issues concerning:Disaster survivorsDisaster respondersPeople with pre-existing behavioral health conditionsBehavioral health care infrastructureIndividual and community resilience and recoveryMessaging/risk communication

Needs may emerge immediately

May develop or increase over time

Proven link to physical health

3ASPR: Resilient People. Healthy Communities. A Nation Prepared.4Disaster Behavioral Health (2)Following an emergency event survivors and responders may display symptoms and stress reactions such as:

Emotional symptoms - irritability or excessive sadness.Cognitive dysfunction - difficulty making decisions or following directions.Physical symptoms such as headache, stomach pain, or difficulty breathing.Behavioral reactions increased alcohol/tobacco consumption, sleep disturbance, interpersonal conflict, failure to adhere to physical or medication needs, failure to adhere to public health directives.ASPR: Resilient People. Healthy Communities. A Nation Prepared.The Resilient Trajectory [Bonanno, 2004, 2005, 2008]

5ASPR: Resilient People. Healthy Communities. A Nation Prepared.6Why Were ConcernedMental disorder in a given year--Americans 18+:26.2%, 57.7 million [NIMH]Serious mental disorder--Americans 18+: 6%, 13.2 mil. [NIMH]Have mental disorder--Americans