Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Center for the Study of TraumaticStress Identifies Factors of Interest forCommunity Leaders in the Institute ofMedicine (IOM) Report“Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities
After Disasters: Strategies, Opportunities, andPlanning for Recovery”
A driving goal of the Center
leaders in various roles consider
The report dramatically illustrates thefor the Study of Traumatic Stressthe content of this 2015 Institute(CSTS) is to promote understandingof Medicine (IOM) report.
importance of crossing traditionalof traumatic stress from the cellular
As with all IOM reports,role boundaries in promoting optimallevel to the community level. That is
this was developed through acommunity function and status
accomplished through direct work
lengthy and considered process
by CSTS, collaboration with other
involving a wide diversity offollowing disasters.
organizations, and the dissemination
experts on the topic. The draftof quality information from otherreport was then reviewed byreputable sources. In this process, it is important toother content experts, including CSTS, representing areach beyond the behavioral health community to otherrange of perspectives. The draft was revised and the final
individuals and organizations who are fellow stakeholders.
report published in 2015.
In service of the latter, we recommend that community
This report will be of interest to community leaders for avariety of reasons:■ The report dramatically illustrates the importanceof crossing traditional role boundaries in promoting
optimal community function and status following
disasters.
■ In its development and structure, the report models
a multidisciplinary, multidimensional approachto understanding and promoting resilience incommunities following disasters.
■ It describes a strategic planning process forcommunities to consider. This includes establishing ashared vision of a healthy community, assessment ofhealth and hazard vulnerabilities, planning across all
sectors, and implementation guidance.

■ It firmly reinforces behavioral health as an essential

component of all health and health as a central elementof community wellbeing.
■ It documents that there are health components to allpolicies involved in disaster recovery and speaks tointegrating health into other recovery activities andpriorities.
■ It provides specific and actionable recommendations
that apply to leaders and stakeholders at all levelsof government and within diverse stakeholder
organizations and groups.
In the specific area of behavioral health and disasters (alongstanding priority of CSTS), the report contains a large
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amount of material of interest to community leaders. This
includes content that identifies behavioral health factors,
provides a framework for addressing these factors, offers
examples of programs and approaches, and offers specificrecommendations.
The report recommends behavioral health strategiesthat will be of interest to community leaders beyond thebehavioral health sector. These cut across all disaster
phases. Community strategies should feature:■ Integration of behavioral health into other recoverysectors.
■ Assurance of a variety of services.
■ Maximize participation of impacted populations in thepreparedness and recovery efforts.
■ Promote a sense of safety, connectedness, calming,
hope, and efficacy at all levels.
The report provides a concise and readable summaryof key elements in understanding factors involved incommunity recovery from disasters, including disasterbehavioral health. This material will be of interest tocommunity leaders already well-versed in this aspectof community recovery as well as those newer to thisspecific recovery element. It is rich in both the process of
its development and in the scope and depth of its content.
It is highly recommended for all formal and informal
community leaders who are already involved in, or who
wish to become involved with disaster preparedness,response, and recovery in and for their communities.

Additional Resources:

Ursano, R.J., McKibben, J.B.A., Reissman, D.B., Liu,X., Wang, L., Sampson, R.J., Fullerton, C.S. (2014).
Posttraumatic stress disorder and community collective
efficacy following the 2004 Florida Hurricanes. PLoSONE, 9(2):p.e88467.
Heberman Mash, H.B., Fullerton, C.S., Kowalski-Trakofler,K., Reissman, D.B., Scharf, T., Ursano, R.J. (2013).
Florida department of health workers’ response to 2004
hurricanes: a qualitative analysis. Disaster Med Public
Health Prep, 7(2):153-159.

Fullerton, C.S., Ursano R.J., Liu X, McKibben J.B.A., Wang
L., Reissman D.B. (in press). Depressive symptom
severity and community collective efficacy following
the 2004 Florida Hurricanes. PLoS ONE.
Fullerton, C.S., Mash, H.B.H., Benevides, K.N.,
Morganstein, J.C., & Ursano, R.J. (In Press). Distress ofRoutine Activities and Perceived Safety Associated withPTSD, Depression and Alcohol Use: 2002 Washington,
DC Sniper Attacks. Disaster Medicine & Public HealthPreparedness.
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress. Leadership inthe Wake of Disaster. http://www.cstsonline.org/assets/media/documents/CSTS_FS_Leadership_in_Disasters.
pdf
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress. Addressing theNeeds of the Seriously Mentally Ill Following Disasters.
Update URL: https://www.cstsonline.org/assets/media/
documents/CSTS_FS_Addressing_Needs_of_Mentally_
Ill_in_Disasters.pdf
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress. PsychologicalFirst Aid. https://www.cstsonline.org/assets/media/
documents/CSTS_FS_Psychological%20First%20Aid_
Support_Well_Being_of_%20Disaster_Victims.pdf

The report provides a concise and readable
summary of key elements in understanding
factors involved in community recovery
from disasters, including disaster behavioralhealth.
Citation: Institute of Medicine. 2015. Healthy,
Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After
Disasters: Strategies, Opportunities, andPlanning for Recovery. Washington, DC: The
National Academies Press.
https://doi.org/10.17226/18996.
Website: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/18996/
healthy-resilient-and-sustainablecommunities-after-disasters-strategiesopportunities-andCenter for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Department of Psychiatry
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
www.CSTSonline.org