Mental Health

The regular occurrence of suicide attacks and military action is a fact of life for citizens of many areas of the world. Some researchers have proposed that an ever-present threat has mentally equipped people living in these areas to deal with its consequences. After the September 11 attacks, the United States government has worked to prepare the public health workforce to help Americans deal with potential disasters and terrorism. But what exactly is required to improve our nation’s mental health? What is the government doing to safeguard America's psyche?

On October 15, 2003, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health held a day-long conference to examine mental health and disaster preparedness. Topics discussed included:

• The psychological nature of terrorism
• The public’s behavior and response to previous disasters
• Applying psychological first-aid techniques to co-workers, patients and the public
• Best practices in the field of mental health and disaster preparedness
• Developing a strategic plan for mental health preparedness
• Providing mental health care for the caregivers during a disaster

Conference materials are expected to be posted in our symposia resources. Training modules on the "Psychology of Terrorism" are also in development by Dr. George Everly.

Additional Mental Health Resources

The National Mental Health Association  

The National Institutes of Mental Health