Mental Health and Behavioral Guidelines for Preparedness and Response to Coronavirus and other Emerging Infectious Outbreaks

The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University has prepared guidelines to address the mental health and behavioral concerns related to preparedness and responses to COVID-19 and similar infectious outbreaks. Attention is paid to the interrelationship between psychological, emotional, and behavioral responses and their effects on response plans. These guidelines articulate four phases for responding to the COVID-19 crisis—preparedness, early outbreak response, later response and recovery, and mental health intervention planning to address the perceived and actual risks.