When disaster strikes, people need more than food and shelter, mental health support is also vital to recovery. Dr. Leilani AhinaDawson has been a licensed psychologist for over 20 years and a Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Manager since the 2023 Maui wildfires. She knows that when disaster strikes, our psychological needs are just as important as our physical needs. She notes that as first responders, Red Crossers may be the first to interact with a disaster survivor and having the tools to assess and support mental health needs is crucial. This World Mental Health Day, Dr. Leilani shared some tips for disaster responders and disaster-affected individuals on how to care for themselves and their community.

Psychological first aid: Skills everyone can learn

An important part of her work is teaching psychological first aid, which helps people recognize distress, offer support and identify when someone may need additional help. Psychological first aid training is provided to Red Cross volunteers so that responders in many different roles have the tools to support their peers and the community members they interact with.

“I really enjoy teaching psychological first aid because everybody can relate to having gone through something difficult and bouncing back,” she says. “We all have those skills in us and can support ourselves and others.”

She believes these skills are valuable for everyone, not just mental health professionals. By learning how to recognize when someone is struggling and how to respond with compassion, we can help build stronger, more resilient communities.

“People are very resilient and can amazingly get through difficult circumstances, including natural disasters, and we can all support each other,” she explains.

That support also extends to Red Cross volunteers, who need to recognize their own needs and check in with fellow responders as they help others through challenging experiences.

She goes on to say that “Learning how everyone can manage their own distress, as well as helping others, is a fundamental life skill that we all can benefit from.”

The power of listening

For World Mental Health Day, she says her key message is to make space for honest conversations and be there for one another.

“As we support each other’s mental health, we need to be compassionate, empathetic listeners when others are sharing, and the focus is not on problem solving but on validating someone’s experience. Just being a witness to somebody’s challenge can be so affirming and so supportive.” – Dr. Leilani Ahina Dawson

Being present, listening with empathy and letting someone know their experience matters can help them feel less alone. We do not need to have all the answers to offer meaningful support.

A reminder for World Mental Health Day

Supporting mental health begins with small, everyday actions like checking in on a friend, asking a colleague how they are doing, or making time to listen when someone needs to talk.

As Dr. Leilani’s work with the Red Cross demonstrates, we all have a role to play in supporting the well-being of our communities.

This World Mental Health Day, take a moment to check in with yourself and the people around you. Listen with compassion, make space for honest conversations and remember that sometimes, simply being there is enough to make a difference.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/hawaii or follow us on social media.