Introduction: Substance-use related emergencies are a serious public health concern that affects the lives of first responders and the community members they serve. In 2020, the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research initiated an online substance use and mental health training program for first responders, adding courses over time.…

The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns regarding millions of children's mental health. For schools, the real challenge has been how to manage the situation in terms of education and development. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate a school re-entry program that supported teachers and students with activities aimed at processing…

On April 27, 2011 a series of tornadoes tore through the southeast United States. Sixty-four percent of the counties in the state of Alabama were directly affected by these storms. After a natural disaster, children who are directly or indirectly affected show numerous intense emotional reactions. Recovery programs can be set up to enable them to…

Prior research in responses to crisis and emergency messages has indicated that while the acquisition of information is critical in reducing anxiety and stress, informational needs and associated emotional reactions on the part of men and women may be quite different. This survey study revealed that responses following a campus shooting in 2008…

This article draws from and builds on the experience of schools in San Diego County following the forest fires that wrought havoc on the area last October. Three teachers (Dana Riggs, Marcelina Madueno and Miriam Atlas) provide a moving account of the personal experiences of their students, who lived through the fires. Their recollections…

Emotional competency is defined as developed ability and skills in the areas of self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management. These skills are nurtured, developed, and practiced until they become competencies and serve as a resource when a tragic event occurs. They are relatively undeveloped in very young children…