Disaster Distress Helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990 or text "TalkWithUs" to 66746, a program of SAMHSA, is the first and only national resource specifically for help after natural disasters. Staffed by counselors trained to offer mental and emotional support was launched early this year.  Services are 24/7; offered in English and Spanish, and translators are on hand to work with a wide variety of other languages.

Children and Disasters
The emotional impact that natural and human-caused disasters have on children and youth is the theme of a new publication of the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC). The twice-yearly bulletin is a supplement to the monthly DTAC Bulletin.

 

Disaster Readiness

SAMHSA Health Information Network: The Dialogue is an arena for professionals in the disaster behavioral health field to share information, resources, trends, solutions to problems, and accomplishments. Readers are invited to contribute profiles of successful programs, book reviews, highlights of state and regional trainings, and other news items.

• SAMHSA Report: Building Bridges: Mental Health Consumers and Representatives of the Disaster Response Community in Dialogue (2007)
• Ads detail mental health services available to hurricane survivors (09/01/06)
• Preparing for Pandemic Avian Influenza: Ensuring Mental Health Services and Mitigating Panic (03/21/06)
  A White Paper prepared by the Constella Group
• Preparing for Pandemic Avian Influenza: Quarantine and Global Migration (02/24/06)
  A White Paper prepared by the Constella Group
• SAMHSA Hurricane Katrina Resources
• SAMHSA Hurricane Katrina and Disaster Relief Information 
• Waivers Granted    
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS): "Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Training Manual" (2004) 
• Resources to Help Children Deal with Disasters 
• AHA Emergency Readiness: Mental Health Resources