ABSTRACT
While many lasting psychological disorders can emerge in the wake of a disaster trauma, this chapter will focus mostly on post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic growth and their respective predictors and interventions. Moreover, the theoretical foundation for this chapter will be Terror Management Theory (TMT), which will help the reader understand how human beings have navigated our existential issues in society for as far back as the authors can tell from history. With a working understanding of TMT, emergency services providers, emergency managers, and homeland security officials can better formulate plans that will reach the hearts and minds of the citizens they serve. Disaster planning for mental health services involves support for both emergency and disaster workers and the citizens impacted by the event. Furthermore, the mental health professionals will also likely need support during and after they have done their work in a disaster context.
