Useful Websites for Responding to Mental Health Issues in the Aftermath of War, Hurricanes & Other Disasters  

National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)—provides Crisis Response Teams (CRT) to communities within 24 hours of a request.  CRTs 1) Help local decision-makers identify all the groups at risk of experiencing trauma, 2) Train local caregivers who are to reach out to those groups after the CRT leaves, 3) Lead one or more group crisis intervention sessions (also known as “debriefing”) to show how those private sessions can help victims start to cope with their distress.  www.trynova.org, 

(703) 535-NOVA; hotline:  (800) Try-NOVA (879-6682) 

Capital Area Crisis Response Team (CACRT)—comprised of Washington DC Metropolitan Area volunteer crisis interveners, educators, mental health workers, victim assistance specialists and allied professionals, the CACRT provides direct services free of charge to any community or group that requests support in the aftermath of traumas such as workplace shootings, homicides, fire, large-scale accidents, school violence, suicide, and terrorism.  www.cacrt.org, (202) 425-6022 

The American Psychological Association’s Disaster Response Network (DRN)—is a national network of volunteer psychologists with training in disaster response who offer volunteer assistance to relief workers, victims and victims’ families after manmade or natural disasters.  The more than 2,000 members work mostly with the American Red Cross through state-based DRNs.  www.apa.org/practice/drnindex.html

Action Without Borders—sponsors the Idealist.org website with a link on its front page entitled “Help for Disaster Victims.”  This site has a wealth of resources and links to other resources and organizations.  www.idealist.org/disaster.html 

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies—has a number of public education resources.  www.istss.org/terrorism/public.htm 

World Health Organization (WHO)—focuses on people exposed to extreme stressors and serves as a technical resource and standard-setting body for those assisting resource-poor communities.
www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/mnhemergencies/en/ 

Christian Children’s Fund (CCF)—has a link on its front page entitled “Resources for Relief Professionals.”  There are a number of useful documents related to children and development and psychosocial support.  www.christianchildrensfund.org 

Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR)—provides downloadable resources for how humanitarian assistance and community development can better contribute to building cultures of peace and social justice.  Trauma and Recovery brochures are available in several languages, as are suggestions for helping children, reports and curriculum developed by expert conferences.  www.psysr.org, (202) 543-5347