Supporting Community Health Workers After a Disaster: Findings From a Mixed-Methods Pilot Evaluation Study of a Psychoeducational Intervention

This study evaluated a brief psychoeducational workshop designed to support community health workers after a disaster. The intervention increased participants’ knowledge about stress and coping and significantly reduced acute stress immediately after the training. At 3 weeks, participants also reported stronger social support and connection with colleagues. Qualitative findings showed that workers valued learning how to recognize stress, normalize their reactions, and build daily coping routines. Team cohesion and shared experiences were key benefits. Overall, the program shows that short, practical trainings can reduce stress and strengthen coping and support among frontline workers during disaster recovery.