Disaster Mental Health
Disaster Mental Health
Compassionate care provided by licensed professionals who volunteer their time and talent.
Compassionate care provided by licensed professionals who volunteer their time and talent.
Compassionate care provided by licensed professionals who volunteer their time and talent.
Compassionate care provided by licensed professionals who volunteer their time and talent.
Even when the immediate danger has passed, the impact can still be felt. People may feel grief or anger over the damage or loss, fear or hopelessness when thinking about rebuilding their lives, or they may simply feel overwhelmed and not know how to begin. Taking those first steps toward recovery can be easier with a little support.
Red Cross Disaster Mental Health volunteers provide that support. These 3,000 compassionate professionals volunteer their considerable skills and training to respond when disaster strikes. Whether fostering a positive culture in disaster shelters, being a patient listener for someone who needs to talk about what they’ve gone through, or even spotting early signs of traumatic stress that can be referred for specialist care, Disaster Mental Health volunteers help create conditions where people, families and communities can rebuild after devastating events.
548 Disaster Mental Health volunteers deployed to events last year.
We made 23,554 disaster mental health contacts following medium to large disasters last year.
The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year.
Red Cross Disaster Mental Health services began in 1992.
Disasters don’t stop for pandemics, so the Red Cross is adapting many of the ways we provide services to those affected. One significant change is in how we provide emergency shelter after disasters. Depending on local conditions, the safest solution may be putting people up in hotel rooms rather than on cots in a local school gymnasium. In addition to increasing the cost of sheltering, this adaptation means we need to find new ways to provide disaster mental health services.
Enter the video conference call. During the pandemic, many people began using video conferencing for work, school and socializing. These services also enable us to reach and provide comfort to people who have suffered the stress and trauma of a disaster. Where there is a need, we will find a way to meet it!
Disaster Mental Health Volunteer since: 1998
Professional background: Psychiatric nursing, social work
Recent assignment: Serving as the Diaster Mental Health lead after the Midland, MI dam disaster in 2020.
Why she became a volunteer: Helen saw Red Cross volunteers on the news after the Oklahoma City bombing and thought that would be a good way to keep busy in retirement. In the end she didn't wait that long and started volunteering a few years later.
Key moment: Volunteering at Ground Zero after 9/11. Working with everyone from police officers to crane operators showed her the value that she and her fellow volunteers were able to provide.
Quote: “We’re talking to people at their time of great need. And if we do it well, it makes a difference.”
Are you a mental health professional with a Master’s Degree and a current license or certification in any US state or territory (or recently retired)? Your skills are needed to help people facing the stress and trauma of disaster, or to facilitate skills workshops for service members, veterans and their families. Please consider volunteering!
Enter your zip code and then search for Health in the search bar. Available positions may vary based on your location.
Help people affected by disasters big and small.