Resources for Providers: Responding to Sudden Trauma

Following disasters, such as the tornadoes in central states of the US, including Oklahoma, initial intervention involves reducing primary distress and offering practical assistance. The resources below will help first responders and mental health providers learn skills in psychological first aid and appropriate response to such events.

For materials to share with your clients or members of the public, including Veterans, please see our Resources for Survivors and the Public page.

Psychological First Aid

• The Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide
  PFA is an evidence-informed modular approach for assisting people in the immediate aftermath of disaster to reduce initial distress and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning. The guide, created jointly with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, is available in multiple languages. Features:
• Psychological First Aid Online training for providers
• PFA Online Videos on Youtube
• Handouts for survivors
• PFA Mobile App
  Following disasters or emergencies, the PFA Mobile app can assist responders who provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) to adults, families, and children.
  Free PFA Mobile download: iTunes (iOS)*
  (PFA will be available for Android devices in 2013.)
• Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S)*
  For school staff, this manual is an evidence-informed approach for assisting children, teens, adults, and families in the aftermath of a school crisis, disaster, or terrorism event. The guide includes handouts and worksheets for adults and children.

Early Intervention

Early interventions need to focus on safety, reducing initial distress, gathering information, and offering practical assistance. Find out more about early intervention in this section of our website. Highlights:

• Helping Survivors in the Wake of a Disaster
• Early Mental Health Interventions for Disasters
• Secondary Mental Health Treatment Following Disasters

Treatment Overview

PTSD and other mental health problems develop in some individuals who experience disaster. Find out more about effective treatments that work in this section of our website. Highlights:

• Recommendations for Pharmacological Treatment of Acute Stress Reactions
• Managing Grief After Disaster

Handouts for Providers

• Mental Health Reactions after Disaster (PDF)
• Pharmacological Treatment of Acute Stress Reactions and PTSD (PDF)
• Psychosocial Treatment of Disaster Related Mental Health Problems (PDF)

Information and Resources for Community Response

• Working with Trauma Survivors: What Workers Need to Know
  Information regarding traumatic stress and tips on self-care.
• Disaster Rescue and Response Workers
  Provides information on managing stress in a disaster situation.
• Media Coverage of Traumatic Events: Research on Effects
  Discusses effects of news media coverage on children and adults. Suggests ways providers can help children and parents.
• Terrorist Attacks and Children
  Discusses how children respond to events of terrorism, and tips for what professionals and parents can do.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network*
  An organization with a focus on how to improve access to care, treatment, and services for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events.
• Grief Leadership*
  Leadership in the Wake of Tragedy: A handout from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress.