Mental health response to disasters and other critical incidents

Last reviewed: 3 Apr 2025
Last updated: 16 Feb 2023

Summary

Details

  • Definitions
  • Preparing for disaster
  • The mental health impact of disasters
  • Outreach and screening
  • Management of acute mental health responses
  • Management of long-term mental health problems
  • Role of systems management
  • Next steps
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Craig L. Katz, MD

Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Medical Education, System Design and Global Health

Director

Program in Global Mental Health

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York City

NY

Disclosures

CLK is a trauma consultant for Advanced Recovery Systems. CLK is an author of references cited in this topic.

Acknowledgements

Professor Craig L. Katz would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr R. Gregg Dwyer and Dr Mindy T. Fullilove, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

MTF is the author of some studies referenced in this topic. RGD declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Carol North, MD

The Nancy and Ray L. Hunt Chair in Crisis Psychiatry and Professor of Psychiatry

Director

Division of Trauma and Disaster

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas

TX

Disclosures

CN is the author of some studies referenced in this topic.

Chris Brewin, PhD

Professor of Clinical Psychology

Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology

University College

London

UK

Disclosures

CB is the author of one study referenced in this topic.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Sever MS, Vanholder R; RDRTF of ISN Work Group on Recommendations for the Management of Crush Victims in Mass Disasters. Recommendation for the management of crush victims in mass disasters. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2012;27(suppl 1):i1-i67.Full text  Abstract

World Health Organization. Psychological first aid: guide for fieldworkers. Geneva: WHO; 2011.Full text

Gillies D, Maiocchi L, Bhandari AP, et al. Psychological therapies for children and adolescents exposed to trauma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;10:CD012371.Full text  Abstract

American Psychological Association. Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Feb 2017 [internet publication].Full text

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Dec 2018 [internet publication].Full text

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

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