Extension professionals are often called upon to help communities when unexpected events occur. In the United States, Extension systems are a lifeline for rural farming and ranching communities that often lack resources to recover from disasters and manage the sudden increase in stress associated with significant personal, material and financial losses.
Exposure to such trauma and hardship can greatly affect Extension professionals’ mental health and well-being. Therefore, it is critical to support wellness among Extension professionals and help them build resiliency to continue to do their jobs well in times of crisis.
The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) recently published a training series to help Extension professionals:
- Better understand the psychological effects of disasters.
- Take steps to care for their well-being.
- Learn skills to help their colleagues and clientele work through emotional stress related to disasters.
Importantly, the resource emphasizes the need for Extension professionals to be able to recognize and encourage ways to support their own well-being, reach out for support when needed, and in turn, share these resources with clients and communities.
Download the resource: “Extension and Mental Health Resiliency During Times of Disaster and Recovery: A Seven-Part Series.”
Topics in the series include:
- Introduction: Background on Extension and disaster stress
- The brain’s response to disasters; Normal reactions to abnormal situations
- Phases of disaster and community changes
- Recognizing signs and symptoms of disaster stress
- Taking care of you: Stress management
- Taking care of you: Self care
- Developing optimism: A resiliency skill
Authors include Lynette Black, Oregon State University Extension Service; Sherry Nelson, University of Missouri Extension; Cathy Pearson, Texas A&M AgrilLife Extension, Brian Oatman, University of California, Sonja Koukel, New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension and Linda Tannehill, University of Alaska Extension.
The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is a collaborative multi-state effort by Cooperative Extension Services across the country to improve the delivery of services to citizens affected by disasters. EDEN’s mission is to reduce the impact of disasters through research-based education. Visit the EDEN website to learn more.