One of the priorities in emergencies and disasters is to protect and improve people’s mental health and psychosocial well-being. This portal provides valuable resources for health professionals working with individuals and communities threatened by, or affected by, emergencies and disasters.

As well as physical and practical preparation, it is helpful to know how to prepare psychologically before a disaster and how to cope emotionally during or after a disaster.

Response strategies refer primarily to the actions taken to deal with the disaster at the time of the emergency, particularly the actions of emergency services such as fire, ambulance, police and first responders in the disaster area.

While most people will recover from traumatic events without professional intervention, some are likely to need additional support to help them cope.