PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Resources for Survivors and the Public Following Disaster and Mass Violence

Key Information

What to Expect in the Wake of Disaster | en Español
Disasters can cause a range of reactions in direct victims, emergency personnel, as well as in the public at large. There are strategies you can use to cope in the short- and long-term, and effective treatments that can help.

What to Expect in the Wake of Mass Violence | en Español
Mass violence events can cause a range of reactions in direct victims, emergency personnel, as well as in the public at large. There are strategies you can use to cope in the short and long-term, and effective treatments that can help.

What to Expect in the Wake of Wildfires | en Español
Wildfires have caused millions of acres to burn, leaving death, injury, loss of homes and community destruction in their wake. Such events can also cause financial hardship and ongoing stressors as people work to put their lives back together.

Help for People Affected by Disasters and Mass Violence
Learn about the types of help individuals and communities may need to recover after a disaster or mass violence event. Useful resources are included in the article.

Ways for Families to Cope with School Shootings
Learn to use and adapt strategies found to help families with fear, anger and loss after a school shooting.

Self-Care After Disasters
Disasters may cause a number of stress reactions in those who experience or respond to the event. Learn about steps you can take to manage stress after a disaster.

Tools to Help with Symptoms Following Trauma

PTSD Coach Mobile App
This mobile app designed to help with self-care for those with PTSD can also be helpful in the aftermath of a disaster. Use this app to track your level of distress and learn skills to cope with symptoms that commonly occur after trauma.
Download free App: iTunes (iOS) | Google Play (Android). | French Canadian iTunes (iOS).

PTSD Coach Online
This online resource offers 17 tools that can help you manage trauma reminders, sleep issues and other troubling symptoms following a disaster. PTSD Coach Online is available to anyone with access to the Internet.

PTSD Family Coach Mobile App
This mobile app is for family members of those living with someone who has PTSD. It offers tools that may be helpful in the aftermath of a disaster. Use this app to take care of yourself, strengthen your relationship with a loved one who experienced a disaster, and help your loved one get necessary care.
Download free App: iTunes (iOS) | Google Play (Android)

Printable Handouts for Disaster Survivors

More Disaster Related Information

Common Reactions After Trauma
After going through a trauma, survivors often say that their first feeling is relief to be alive. This may be followed by stress, fear, and anger. Trauma survivors may also find they are unable to stop thinking about what happened. Many survivors will show a high level of arousal, which causes them to react strongly to sounds and sights around them.

Effects of Disasters: Resilience and Risk Factors
When disaster happens, it's common to have stress reactions. Most people recover in time. Learn about factors that make it more or less likely that someone will have more severe or longer-lasting stress reactions after such events.

Trauma Reminders: Triggers
People respond to traumatic events in a number of ways, such as feelings of concern, anger, fear, or helplessness. Research shows that people who have been through trauma, loss, or hardship in the past may be even more likely than others to be affected by new, potentially traumatic events.

Community Violence: Effects on Children and Teens
Describes how neighborhood violence affects young people, and gives resources that can help.

Media Coverage of Traumatic Events
Learn how media (news, movies, etc.) can affect your stress level or harm children, and read about how to reduce bad effects.

Links to Key Resources

• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
  This national network of local crisis centers provides free and confidential support to those who feel emotionally overwhelmed or in distress. Call or send a text to 988 for 24/7 support. You can also open a live online chat on their website.
• Veterans Crisis Line
  This service connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring responders trained to work with Veterans. Receive free, confidential support 24/7: 988 then press 1 or text 838255.You can also open a live online chat on their website.
• Give an Hour
  Give an Hour works with mental health providers who volunteer their services to provide care and support to those affected by natural disasters or man-made traumas. Give an Hour also provides free mental health care to active duty, National Guard and Reserve Service members, Veterans, and their families.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network
  This Center works to improve access to care, treatment, and services for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events.