U.S. Department of Justice and National Alliance on Mental Illness Produce Guide on Coping with Mass Casualty Incidents

Preparing for the Unimaginable: How chiefs can safeguard officer mental health before and after mass casualty events (https://www.nami.org/getattachment/9e339226-ab50-46f2-b74c-fa48f498dede/Preparing_for_Unimaginable_16may24_FINAL.pdf), a recently released guide from DOJ's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office and NAMI, addresses how police chiefs can prepare for coping with a mass casualty incident, and what to do and expect in the aftermath of such an incident. The guide is a direct result of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in December 2012, and is organized into three sections:

• Why mental health matters, including short- and long-term examinations of trauma and how unresolved mental trauma can impact public safety.
• Steps to take to prepare officers for coping with a mass casualty event.
• Steps to take during and after a mass casualty event.

The guide also offers handouts, resources, case histories and links to organizations that can offer help.