Building a National Model of Public Mental Health Preparedness and Community Resilience: Validation of a Dual-Intervention, Systems-Based Approach

“This study tested a simple, practical way to improve community mental health preparedness before disasters. Local health departments partnered with faith-based groups to train community members in Psychological First Aid (PFA) and to help teams create basic disaster plans in one day. After training, participants showed clear improvement in knowledge, confidence, and skills. Most planning teams completed usable disaster plan drafts the same day. The project also strengthened partnerships between health departments and community organizations. The results show that working with trusted local groups can expand mental health support and improve disaster planning in real communities.