Families & Caregivers

Child and Youth Mental Health and Community Well-being in the Aftermath of a Disaster

Published August 08, 2025

An important component of the recovery phase after a disaster is the mental health and well-being of children, the community, and caregivers.

Mental health for kids 

With any disaster, children may experience a range of emotions that could deeply impact their mental and behavioral health. 

“In addition to ensuring the physical safety of children and families, it is essential to also remember their mental health needs.  Disasters can cause disruption, displacement and fear which can have both a short- and long-term impact on child and family mental health and well-being,” said Lee Beers, MD, one of the leaders of the Pediatric Pandemic Network Mental and Behavioral Health domain.  

Merritt “Chip” Schreiber,  PhD, one of the leaders of the PPN Mental Health domain says, “Natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, “particularly those that involve significant loss of life and destruction, create significant mental health risk for parents and children. There is a continuum of risk and resilience that is tied to the family experiences before, during and after the disaster.”   

Manmade disasters or intentional violence, such as mass shootings, can cause a unique fear. Patty Davis, MSW, LSCSW, LCSW, one of the PPN Mental Health members shares that “with mass violence comes wide-spread fears and anxieties. These fears are often universal, affecting both young and old, resourced, and non-resourced, those directly exposed and those with vicarious connections to the events.” 

The Pediatric Pandemic Network offers many pediatric-specific response resources including PsySTART®, a rapid, real-time, dual use triage system to assess pediatric needs during disasters, mass violence incidents, and everyday traumatic injuries. PsySTART has been offered at no cost to any pediatric-serving entity in Hawaii in response to the wildfires. 

Several resources are available to help parents talk with their children and take care of their own needs as well. 

Pediatric mental health resources: 

Community Impact

A community experiencing loss will continue to feel the impacts for months, and even years, to come.  

Schreiber shares the importance of empathizing with friends and neighbors after a disaster. “By expressing sympathy for what our family, friends, and neighbors have experienced in the disaster, we actually help protect and support their recovery,” Schreiber said.  

Connecting with neighbors and community may reduce further disaster exposure, allow for positive coping, and help build resilience in the face of tragedy.  

Community mental health resources: 

Mental health for caregivers

Disasters that affect entire communities can inhibit the ability of parents to respond to the needs of their children and families.  

Response to a traumatic event affects how children and families cope in the event of a disaster. It’s important for parents and caregivers to practice self-care in order to offer the type of support and guidance a family needs to recover emotionally. Here are some helpful tips: 

    • Use positive coping mechanisms to reduce your stress levels including meditation and breathing exercises. 
    • Talk to someone to help process personal emotions and anxiety about the situation. 
    • Reach out to service providers, like the American Red Cross. 
    • Review resources provided by trusted sources including the Pediatric Pandemic Network. 

Additionally, it’s important for emergency responders and health care workers involved with a disaster to prioritize their own mental health.  

Mental health resources for Families & Caregivers: 

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