Every disaster unfolds in a different context, shaped by local systems, cultural norms, social conditions, and political realities. Yet many of the mental health challenges that emerge share common patterns. Understanding how to apply universal principles while responding to local needs is a central challenge in disaster mental health preparedness.
This question was explored at the inaugural PreAct Conference in New York City in June 2025, where experts from the United States and Israel brought together perspectives from large-scale disaster response, mental health system adaptation, and clinical work with migrants who have experienced repeated trauma.
Drawing on the response to September 11 in the United States, the mental health system’s adaptation following the October 7 attacks in Israel, and clinical work with Eritrean and Sudanese migrants, the panel examined both the commonalities of traumatic stress and the differences that shape how people experience and respond to it.
The discussion highlighted the importance of flexible systems that can adapt to changing needs, rather than relying solely on fixed protocols. Strategies such as train-the-trainer models, task-shifting, and collaboration between specialists and non-specialists can help expand response capacity, particularly when professional resources are limited. At the clinical level, the work with migrant communities underscored the importance of trust, cultural understanding, and attention to the social and practical challenges that shape recovery.
Together, these perspectives show why effective disaster mental health research must look beyond universal frameworks alone. It must also examine how systems function in practice, how different communities understand and experience distress, and how care can be adapted to meet their needs.
For PreAct, research helps connect shared principles with local realities - turning lessons from different disasters and communities into more adaptable, evidence-informed approaches to mental health preparedness and response.