National Center Handouts

Below you will find a variety of useful handouts: on General Trauma, Specific to Veterans and their Families, and on Disasters. Much of the information contained in the topic-specific handouts can be adapted to other forms of severe trauma.

Some of the disaster handouts are specifically designed to give to survivors while others were created to educate practitioners who are dealing with a disaster situation. Any of our fact sheets can also be used as handouts. Also see handouts from other sources.

General Trauma

• Treatment of PTSD (PDF)
  This PDF handout describes the treatments shown to be effective for PTSD as well as other available treatments.
  
• What is PTSD? (PDF)
  This PDF handout describes the symptoms of PTSD, how PTSD develops, some of the other problems people with PTSD experience and what you can do if you think you have PTSD.
  

Specific to Veterans

Handouts for military and families covering pre, during and post deployment:

• Transition Assistance for Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom Veterans (PDF)
  Discusses VA's Transition Centers and lists some resources for further information.
  
• Warzone-Related Stress Reactions: What Veterans Need to Know (PDF)
  Most reactions to traumatic war experiencesare temporary, but sometimes the reactions continue after service members return home. Here you will find out what these reactions look like and how to get help....
  
• Depression (PDF)
  Explains what depression is, how it is treated, and what you can do about it.
  
• Stress, Trauma, and Alcohol and Drug Use (PDF)
  Describes when using alcohol to reduce stress becomes a problem and what to do.
  
• What If I Have Sleep Problems? (PDF)
  Provides a list of ten things to do about sleep problems as well as information on nightmares and how sleep problems are treated.
  
• Coping with Traumatic Stress Reactions (PDF)
  Discusses the importance of active coping and ways of coping that do not work. Also lists ways to cope with a variety of traumatic stress symptoms that occur.
  
• Warzone-Related Stress Reactions: What Families Need to Know (PDF)
  Talks about how traumatic stress reactions affect families and also how important the family is in recovery.
  
• Families in the Military (PDF)
  Deployment can lead to different affects for different family members. This sheet describes different reactions for various ages and provides tips to ease the stress.
  
• Homecoming: Dealing with Changes and Expectations (PDF)
  Homecoming can be a joyful and also stressful time. This sheet reviews what reactions to expect of the service member, the spouse and children, as well as provides tips to help you have the best possible reunion.
  
• Homecoming: Tips for Reunion (PDF)
  A brief list of tips for soldiers, spouses and children.
  
• Treatment of PTSD (PDF)
  This PDF handout describes the treatments shown to be effective for PTSD as well as other available treatments.
  
• Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Families
  Reintegration is an adjustment for all involved. This guide aims to help families with this process. It covers common reactions that occur following deployment to a war zone, how expectations about homecoming might differ, and discusses what can be done...
  
• Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Military Personnel
  Provides information on common reactions that occur following deployment to a war zone and how expectations about homecoming might diffe. Also discusses the types of problems that can occur and what can be done if they do.
  
• Vermont Resources for Service Members (PDF)
• Coloring Book Pages for Kids (PDF)
  This is a coloring book for military kids dealing with deployment. It was written and illustrated by Deborah Butler.
  

Specific to Disaster Survivors

The documents in this list include Psychological First Aid Handouts and more.

• Psychological First Aid Handouts (PDF)
  (10 handouts) 1. Connecting with Others: Seeking Social Support (For adults/teens) 2. Connecting with Others: Giving Social Support (For adults/teens) 3. When Terrible Things Happen (For adults/teens) 4. Parent Tips for Helping Infants/Toddlers (For...
  
• Reactions to a Major Disaster: A Fact Sheet for Survivors and their Families (PDF)
  Provides information about normal stress reactions, other mental health problems that commonly occur following a disaster, and explains the recovery process.
  
• Treatment of PTSD (PDF)
  This PDF handout describes the treatments shown to be effective for PTSD as well as other available treatments.
  

Specific to Disaster Providers

• Psychological First Aid: Overview (PDF)
  (Appendix A) This is an outline of the nine sections in the Psychological First Aid Manualand what each contains.
  
• Psychological First Aid: Service Delivery Sites and Settings (PDF)
  (Appendix B) A discussion of the challenges different work settings involve such as working in shelters, service centers and outreach teams....
  
• Provider Care: Psychological First Aid (PDF)
  (Appendix C)Providing care following a disaster can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Here are some self-care strategies for before, during and after providing disaster relief.
  
• Psychological First Aid Provider Worksheets (PDF)
  (Appendix D) These worksheets help to assess survivors current needs and track the various components of PFA that are provided.
  
• Mental Health Reactions After Disaster: A Fact Sheet for Providers (PDF)
  Covers information about normal stress responses to a disaster as well as more severe reactions and risk factors.
  
• Psychosocial Treatment of Disaster Related Mental Health Problems: A Fact Sheet for Providers (PDF)
  Recommended interventions including normalizing and support strategies, a review of postive and maladaptive coping actions, and brief information on treatments for more severe stress reactions.
  
• Pharmacological Treatment of Acute Stress Reactions and PTSD: A Fact Sheet for Providers (PDF)
  Information about about who should be provided with pharmacological treatment, when treatment should begin, and what it includes.
  
• Assessing and Responding to Suicidal Intent: A Fact Sheet for Providers (PDF)
  Includes important questions for medical professional to ask, guidance on how to handle suicidal intent, and provides resources for more information.
  
• Psychosocial Consequences of Major Hurricanes and Floods (PDF)
  Covers the range, duration and magnitude of effects, and risk factors for adverse outcomes.
  
• Impact of Mass Shootings on Survivors, Families and Communities (PDF)
  RQ Vol. 18(3) This issue of the PTSD Research Quarterly explores the literature on the impact of mass shootings. Research on mass shootings is not extensive but is sufficient to allow preliminary conclusions about (1) the prevalence, persistence, and...