the MHA of Westchester We Can Help. 914-345-5900 • help@mhawestchester.org
Home|What's New|Privacy|Giving|Volunteering

Coping with War, Terrorism and Disaster

Times of tragedy, whether they are natural disasters, war, terrorist attacks, or economic challenges are times for giving and receiving reassurance. Here are some ways you can help those you love - and yourself.

In-Person Help

MHA of Westchester is available for in-person help at our Elmsford and Mt. Kisco offices. Please contact us at 914-345-5900, extension 240 or E-mail us at help@mhawestchester.org in non-emergency situations. 

Crisis Assistance

If someone is in imminent danger of hurting themselves or someone else, call 911.

Suicide/Crisis Hotline 914-347-6400**

This line is for individuals who feel at risk of harming themselves.  It is operated jointly by MHA of Westchester, New York Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Other Resources

This web site posts materials about understanding normal responses to trauma and identifying our own ways of coping. We offer:

Time For Reassurance
Helping Our Worried Children: Tips for Parents
Helping Our Worried Children: Tips for Parents (Spanish)
Consejos útiles para los padres; Los niños y la ansiedad consejos útiles para los padres

En Espanol

The following materials in Spanish are available on the site of Mental Health America 


Tenemos conexiones para información en Español en nuestra guía Nacional de MHA localizada en
http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/anniversary/indexEspanol.cfm:

Children and War (Spanish)
Cómo ayudar a nuestros niños a afrontar la guerra
http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/spanish/ninosaafrontarlaguerra.cfm

Military Families and Grief (Spanish)
Desconsuelo y afliccion información para los familiares de militares
http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/spanish/Desconsueloyafliccion.cfm

Military Families and Stress (Spanish)
Cómo enfrentar el estres que provoca la guerra: información para familias y comunidades militares
http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/spanish/Comoenfrentarelestresqueprovocalaguerra.cfm

Help for Older Adults to Cope with War and the Threat of Terrorism (Spanish)
Cómo enfrentar la guerra y las amenazas del terrorismo: consejos para los adultos de la tercera edad
http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/spanish/Consejosparalosadultosdelaterceraedad.cfm

Help for People with Mental Illness (Spanish)
Consejos para personas que padecen de enfermedades mentalesen epocas inciertas
http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/spanish/ermedadesmentalesenepocasinciertas.cfm

Coping with the Stress of War (Spanish)
Cómo enfrentar el estres de la guerra
http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/spanish/Comoenfrentarelestresdelaguerra.cfm

In addition, we offer an activity book for adults to use with their pre-school aged children. "Guiding Our Children Through Troubled Times" was developed to help adults talk with young children about frightening events and worried feelings. Written initially to help children cope with feelings related to the events of September 11, 2001, the book can be used to help children manage worries of all kinds, including the worry of impending war and continuing threats of terrorism. Call our Information and Referral Service at 914-345-5900, extension 240 or contact us by e-mail at help@mhawestchester.org to learn more about picking up a copy at our main office in Elmsford, NY.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, offers information on Emergency Preparedness and Response on their web site in English at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/  and in Spanish at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/es/index.asp.

Return to the top of the page.