Skill · People
The week after, in your head
Fear, irritability, and bad sleep are common. They are also a reason to use a real helpline, not to tough it out alone.
Federal steps in this chapter do not change by state. Local orders for Arizona come from Arizona Department of Emergency Management.
5 min read · Updated October 2026
What agencies actually say
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline exists because disasters shake people who were steady the week before. The number is 1-800-985-5990, and talk or text is available. For a suicidal crisis, 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call or text. Those are not preparedness props. They are staffed lines.
Children often show stress as clinginess, sleep changes, or play that repeats the event. Ready.gov’s guidance for kids is to keep routines where you can, answer questions honestly in simple words, and limit graphic news in the background. Adults need the same limits. Eat, drink water, sleep if you can, and do one useful task at a time. A pantry you built in June is allowed to be the thing that makes September feel smaller.
- If someone cannot sleep for days, cannot care for a child, or talks about hopelessness, treat that as urgent and use 988 or 911.
- Do not use alcohol to come down from a bad night. It makes the next day worse and it dehydrates you in the heat.
- Check on the person who “seems fine” and is doing everyone else’s chores.
How to
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline exists because disasters shake people who were steady the week before. For a suicidal crisis, 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Those are staffed lines.
Step 1. Call the helpline
1-800-985-5990, talk or text
Step 2. Use 988
Call or text for a suicidal crisis
Step 3. Keep routines
Answer children in simple words
Step 4. Limit the news
Scheduled news, not all day
Step 5. One task at a time
| Data point | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Disaster Distress Helpline | 1-800-985-5990, talk or text | SAMHSA |
| Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | Call or text 988 | 988 Lifeline |
Worked example
Write 988 and 1-800-985-5990 on the paper card. If someone talks about hopelessness, use 988 or 911.
If someone cannot sleep for days, cannot care for a child, or talks about hopelessness, use 988 or 911. Do not use alcohol to come down from a bad night.
Checklist
Checks stay in this browser.
Sources
Public pages this chapter leans on. They win if anything here is out of date.
- SAMHSA — Disaster Distress Helpline
1-800-985-5990
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
- Ready.gov — Kids
Helping children after emergencies