Make mental health part of your preparedness journey

Make mental health part of your preparedness journey

At the intersection of emergency management and mental health in National Preparedness Month

By Hollie Stark
Outreach Program Manager

This story is personal. I don't really want to tell it. What I want to do is regurgitate our standard three-pronged preparedness talking points - know your hazards and reduce risk, make plans, gather supplies (YOU SHOULD DO THOSE THINGS). But as I sit in front of my computer at the start of National Preparedness Month, this is the story that is begging to be told.

This story is also for everyone, so please bear with me as I try to weave some seemingly dichotomous thoughts into a coherent message about emergency management, being prepared and managing mental health throughout it all.

One year ago this month, I was preparing to attend the Washington State Emergency Management Association (WSEMA) conference. Our program - Hazards and Outreach - had a booth to showcase our outreach materials and network with our local, state, tribal and federal partners, all while being edified by presentations from esteemed emergency management colleagues.

I remember with crystal clarity the day before the conference. All my booth materials were carefully packed and all my outfits were chosen (hey, I'm just a girl). I was anticipating the conference with all the exuberance of an extrovert who was about to reconnect with the myriad emergency management friends I had made since moving to Washington in September of 2022.

That is when I got a call I would not wish on anyone. It was the police, or maybe an EMT, I can't remember - it's funny how fast clarity can turn to confusion in times of emergency. My 16-year-old son had been found on the beach with a bottle of pills, most of which he had consumed, and was being taken by ambulance to the hospital.

How could that be, I thought? When I sent him off to school that morning, I had checked his backpack for anything that could possibly hurt him. If you have never experienced it, I hope you never do, but the guilt I felt will never leave me. I missed the pills.

You see, it wasn't the first time he had made an attempt to take his own life. I should have known better.

Earlier in that same year, he had walked out of school and toward the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. That time, I picked him up from a police car at the edge of the bridge. Both times he had been helped by concerned residents, strangers to whom I will never get to express my endless gratitude for saving his life.

Working through his mental health struggles that year was one step forward and about ten steps backward.

September is also National Suicide Prevention Month.

I am pretty sure it is simply coincidence that National Preparedness Month and National Suicide Prevention Month both take place in September and that both would be so prevalent in my life, but it is safe to say that mental health and disasters are often inextricably connected.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Every year, millions of people are affected by emergencies such as … natural disasters. These crises disrupt families, livelihoods and essential services, and significantly impact mental health. Nearly all those affected experience psychological distress."

The WHO goes on to say that most people affected by disasters will experience feelings of anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, sleep issues, irritability, anger and/or aches and pains. For most people, these things will subside over time. That said, an estimated 22 percent may develop depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even bi-polar disorder of schizophrenia.

This is true both for those who are directly affected by the disaster as well as those who respond to the disaster such as first responders, search and rescue and emergency managers.

In a state Emergency Operations Center, it can be hard to admit what a toll it actually takes on our mental health to watch the places and people we love experience disasters and then sign up to help.

I have watched co-workers pull 24-hour shifts monitoring tsunamis and have sat in heated arguments in rooms where we are trying to get our support just right for the people we vow to protect.

I can personally attest that from COVID-19 (the time I started in emergency management) to today, I have felt a growing pressure on my chest for each new disaster we respond to or experience through an emergency management lens.

And though it is just conjecture on my part, I am willing to wager that the feeling extends to people who only experience disaster through the media from somewhere seemingly far removed from the ruin. Helpless to help and wondering what they would do if it ever happened to them. Because it can and it will.

That is why this story needs to be told.

The official theme for National Preparedness Month this year is "Preparedness Starts at Home." It is meant to be a call to return to the basic steps a person should take in their own home or sphere of influence to be more prepared for disaster.

Certainly, the simple steps we lay out in our preparedness guidance are a great place to start and will go a long way not only toward physical preparedness but also confidence and peace of mind before, during and after disasters.

But as I reflected deeper on the theme, I couldn't shake the feeling that one of the most powerful things we can do at home to prepare for disasters - whether personal like my own family's struggles or global - is fortify our mental health.

Here are some tips:

Create healthy practices to help you cope during a disaster: Practices like exercise, meditation and breathing can help you stay calm, present and more empowered during a and after a disaster.

An article from the JED Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the emotional well-being and suicide prevention of the nation's teens and young adults said, "Breathing exercises and mindfulness won't erase the extreme hardship you're facing, but they can calm your nervous system and help you feel more in control when making decisions and navigating whatever situation you are facing."

Create a strong support network. Actively working to strengthen relationships with friends, family, and your community is a vital part of having good mental health, especially when faced with a disaster.

I recently had the opportunity to interview a resident of Asheville, North Carolina who reflected with me about the floods that devastated western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. As the one-year anniversary of that disaster approaches, he told me that they got through it because of their neighbors. The neighbors, he said, laid everything on the line for their brothers and sisters in the community.

It truly is and always will be about neighbors helping neighbors.

Know your resources. If you or a loved one is experiencing mental health struggles or suicidal ideation due to a disaster or for any reason, it is OK to share those feelings and ask for help.

If you need to talk, the 988 lifeline is available.

"At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone."

You are not alone. This story is for everyone.

On this National Preparedness and National Suicide Prevention Month I just want to thank you for letting me tell you this story and urge you to make mental health a part of your preparedness journey.