Disaster survivors need help remaining connected with friends and families – and access to mental health care

But they also need psychological first aid – that is, immediate mental health counseling along with support that strengthens their connections with their friends, relatives and decision-makers. Psychological aspects of disastersResearch conducted after a wide variety of catastrophes has shown that mental health problems become more common after these events. Often moved to emergency shelters, and away from their doctors, neighbors and friends, survivors – especially those without strong networks – regularly experience poor mental health. Their friends and relatives can provide emotional support, help them stay informed, and encourage the use of mental health treatment and outside help when it’s needed. Those with strong social networks, however, generally had fewer mental health problems than other survivors with weaker connections to their friends and loved ones.