Our Mission:
The Health Support Team program is a mental health training curriculum derived and developed from the evidence base within disaster mental health research, clinical and counseling psychology, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The aim is to provide education and evidence-based tools. Trained HST team members are then able to help communities coping with a crisis or disaster across the continuum of preparedness, acute response, and rebuilding.
Our Goals
Ongoing Support
Providing evidence-based mental health tools to assist the community in managing acute and chronic behavioral health impacts following a disaster.
Beyond the Community
Creating a community-based mental health support network which is culturally and linguistically matched, and that can operate independently from outside assistance if needed.
Promote Resilience
Pre-disaster preparation for communities prone to natural or man-made disasters, fostering ongoing and sustainable behavioral health support.
The Curriculum Steps
The Health Support Team's working process includes four steps you can follow when providing support for someone.
Listen & Learn
Learn about others and understand their problems by using active listening and other supportive communication skills.
Offers Support
Foster resiliency by developing supportive relationships, and helping the impacted individual discover internal strengths and external resources. And, understanding how and when to refer for additional professional support.
Provide a Tool
Learning and then teaching tools from the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy evidence base. These can assist with acute stress responses using relaxation, changing unhealthy thoughts, and other strategies.
Emphasize Hope
Helping impacted people recognize realistic opportunities for moving forward into recovery.
The Stories
Hear the unique stories of volunteers and people helped by the Health Support Team.
