Category: mental health
This is Your Brain on Emergencies
![](https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/11/brain-825x400.jpg)
There’s a fire in your building. Your plane is about to crash. A woman beside you on the street suddenly collapses. What do you do? Well, that depends. Every one of us is at risk for these kinds of unexpected intrusions into our day-to-day lives. What you do about it depends on whether or not Read More >
Posted on by 8 CommentsAfter Matthew: The Hidden Dangers of Hurricanes
![Fallen trees and damaged electrical power lines blocking a road; hazards after a natural disaster wind storm](https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/10/iStock_95904899_LARGE_COLOR-CORRECTED_banner-825x475.jpg)
The thrashing winds have died down. Relentless rain has ceased. The clouds have cleared and the sun is shining. But this is no time to let your guard down. Last week, Hurricane Matthew pounded its way through the Caribbean before bearing down on the eastern U.S. coastline from Florida to North Carolina. Many lives and Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentMental Health and Recovery
![Hospital Damage in Joplin](https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/Joplin_Banner1-160x80.jpg)
By: Dennis Cooley, MD, FAAP Joplin, Missouri was devastated by an F5 tornado in 2011. Heart to Heart International set up a clinic in a Walgreens parking lot near the hardest hit area to care for injured volunteers. The clinic provided medical care on a walk-in basis. Dr. Dennis Cooley worked in the clinic Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentCoping with Disasters
![Storm Damage - tree down in the road](https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/06/banner_1-160x80.jpg)
Whether you live in tornado alley or in a hurricane-prone coastal region, it’s important to include emotional wellness activities in your diaster plan. Severe weather and evacuations can cause emotional distress such as anxiety, worry, and fear in both adults and children. Although no one can plan for a disaster, you can practice healthy coping Read More >
Posted on by Leave a commentThe Early Years of Life Set the Stage for Life-long Mental Health
![Children standing with backpacks on](https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/10/mental_health_image.jpg)
We know that mental health is essential to overall health and well-being (WHO, 2001). However, as you read this, about 1 in 5 youth in the United States currently experience a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. About half of all children have experienced a mental health problem (Institute of Medicine (IOM), 2009). Read More >
Posted on by 10 CommentsDisaster Recovery – An Emotional Response
![woman and man looking out over flooded houses and road](https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/07/Emotional-response_Banner.jpg)
The effects of a disaster are not always physical. Houses and roads can be rebuilt and physical wounds will heal, but the emotional scars from a disaster can often be harder to fix. In 2008 Cedar Rapids, Iowa experienced extreme flooding that wiped out businesses and homes, disrupting daily life and displacing residents. While other Read More >
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