New Resource Available! SAMHSA DTAC Dialogue: Rural and Remote Disaster Behavioral Health

[SAMHSA DTAC DBH]

Greetings Group members:

SAMHSA DTAC is pleased to share our latest issue of The Dialogue on Rural and Remote Disaster Behavioral Health.

Rural communities face distinct challenges during emergencies. These include a variety of hazards such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes, droughts, and industrial accidents, and meeting the needs of a variety of subpopulations, including migrant farmworkers. Beyond physical damage, disasters significantly impact the behavioral health of rural populations. This issue of The Dialogue examines rural and remote disaster behavioral health (DBH), focusing on access disparities to mental health services, building community resilience, and effective outreach and intervention strategies. The issue aims to inform DBH policymakers, practitioners, and researchers about effective approaches for rural DBH.

If you have experience with rural DBH, other community members can learn from your efforts. Please contact us to share your stories and lessons learned

Issue Highlights

Supporting Seasonal and Migrant Farmworkers: Mental Health and Substance Use Risk in the Face of Extreme Heat and Wildfires

• In this article, experts from the Bioecological Center for Rural Children’s Health (BeRCH) discuss behavioral health challenges and solutions for seasonal and migrant farmworkers.

Rural Disaster Behavioral Health: A Guide for Outreach Workers and Crisis Counselors

• In this article Marisa Fife, a registered nurse, shares her personal account of surviving Hurricane Ida as a rural resident in 2021 and spotlights her lessons learned and best practices in rural communities.

Building Relationships, Fostering Trust: Lessons Learned Serving Rural and Remote Communities.

• This article highlights New York’s support for rural and remote communities through their Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program grants.

Responding in Rural Communities

• Beckie Gierer, Director of Missouri's Department of Mental Health Office of Disaster Services, offers guidance on rural DBH planning, preparedness, and response and offers specific guidance for people working in the area of DBH.

Agricultural Behavioral Health: Meeting Farming Communities Where They Are

• In this article, Jennifer Dunn from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health discusses strategies for outreach and engagement in agricultural communities.

Recommended Resources

Rural Disaster Behavioral Health: A Guide for Outreach Workers and Crisis Counselors

This guide from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was developed for workers and volunteers supporting rural populations after a disaster. It reviews risk factors these populations may experience, such as a lack of access to the internet, inaccessibility of resources, and more. The guide also discusses the strengths of a rural population and common disaster reactions.

Access and Functional Needs Toolkit: Integrating a Community Partner Network to Inform Risk Communication Strategies

This Supplemental Research Bulletin from SAMHSA covers challenges and possible solutions for providing behavioral health care in rural areas. Responders understanding the community they are helping, as well as the community’s strengths and struggles, is critical in a successful response. Important questions to ask when developing a disaster plan are included.

Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response Toolkit

This toolkit from the Rural Health Information Hub can help your organization in planning, response, and recovery efforts involving rural communities. Featuring six modules and a series of case studies, the evidence-based toolkit details important issues to consider in emergency planning, the types of disasters most likely to affect rural communities, and additional resources.

All-Hazards Preparedness for Rural Communities

This guide, developed for rural agricultural communities, outlines preparedness and recovery strategies for disasters. It is divided into four sections: general preparedness measures, natural disasters hazards, biological emergencies, and human-caused or technological threats. A variety of checklists are also included to help families develop their emergency plan.

Disaster Preparedness for Older Adults in Rural Areas

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a web page with information on how older adults living in rural communities can better prepare for a disaster. It covers how to learn the hazards in your area, how to make an effective plan and what questions to consider, and what to include in your disaster preparedness kit. Additional resources are included that can help you get emergency alerts and, if you receive benefits, learn how to receive them electronically.

We hope you find these resources helpful! Please feel free to share additional resources on this topic by replying to this conversation.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 1-800-308-3515 or dt...@iqsolutions.com.

Sincerely,

The SAMHSA DTAC Team