United States Programs in Disaster Mental Health

Abstract

My subject is United States experience with disaster mental health. I shall discuss governmental activities at federal, state, and local levels and describe quasi-governmental and private agency activities at those levels. The experience involves four substantive areas, which will be addressed in turn: research, education and training, planning, and services. A fifth section deals with our collaboration with other countries in disaster mental health planning. Disaster mental health efforts are part of a much larger disaster management system of the U.S. Government. At the federal level, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an independent agency reporting directly to the White House, takes the lead in planning responses to emergencies. It coordinates with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other appropriate federal agencies. FEMA has its own National Emergency Training Center, in Emmitsburg, Maryland, for the training of administrators and planners at federal, state, and local levels. Each state has an office of emergency services that, from the governor's office, coordinates all emergency-related planning of all state departments. Localities have varying arrangements, often in cooperation with others nearby, for handling small disasters. They have, or should have, specific agreements with state and federal agencies for situations in which additional funds, supplies, and personnel are needed.