Strength After
Stories of strength and recovery after a disaster.
If you are experiencing emotional distress or other mental health concerns after a disaster, the Disaster Distress Helpline is here for you 24/7/365.
For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Users: Please text or call using your preferred Relay provider. For more resources, click here.
For Spanish: Call or text and press “2”. For more resources, click here.
Para Español: Llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al 1-800-985-5990 y oprima el número 2. Para más recursos, haga clic aquí.
Explore stories about strength after...
A hug from another survivor is different from someone who is trying to console you...you're not alone.
How Survivors of Mass Shootings Are Helping a New Generation Heal
VIA Deseret NewsOur communities can be resilient through the love that we show for one other.
Two Stories of Resilience
VIA United Methodist Creation Justice MovementWhile it's a sad day for us as a family and her loss is palpable, it is also a day of hope and celebration that we can continue to honor her life and her legacy in such a remarkable way.
Learning Facility in Newtown to Honor Sandy Hook School Shooting Victim
VIA NBC NewsMy father’s legacy is alive in all that I do. Every day, I try to channel his ability to make today’s kids feel special, important, and like nothing can stand in their way — just like he did for me.
9/11 Firefighter’s Daughter Says Helping Kids Is How She Honors Her ‘Father’s Legacy’ — and Heals
VIA PeopleThere were so many thoughts and feelings to process, but I found that talking to others helped as well as accepting the fact that it happened, and I got through it.
Pregnancy During the Pandemic
It gives me a made-family that I made and created myself
Indigenous HOOPS program supports Indigenous youth and mental health
VIA ABC NewsI realized there that I wasn't alone in this.
Finding my Phoenix Feathers: Rising From the Ashes of Mass Violence
We owe so much to all who gave of themselves to help our city and our nation heal.
Red Cross Volunteers Remember 9/11
I feel like in some ways I've come out of a shadow and I'm back in the light now.
September 12th: Reflections on September 11th From an Airline Worker
VIA StoryCorpsThe tornado made me want to do medicine here...I think one of the greatest gifts you can do is to give back to your community.
From students to doctors; 2 colleagues connected by the Joplin tornado
VIA KSHBWhen we normalize and respect our own losses, that gives us the energy to respect other losses.
We Have to Grieve Our Last Good Days
VIA The AtlanticIt's really beautiful to see everyone helping together. There was even a dog who was in bad condition and the owner couldn't walk. But the whole team was helping to calm the dog and de-stress her and dry her.
At Al-Salam Mosque In Houston, All Are Welcome
VIA NPRI said to myself, ‘I’m not going to sit around...I made it out for a reason’
Las Vegas Shooting Survivor Remembers Event 3 Years Later
VIA Spectrum NewsThis technique helped me remember the resiliency I have and that I am capable of surviving hard situations.
The Question That Helps Me in Times of Disaster
VIA You MatterAll of us are going to face adversity at some point. I think it’s how we deal with that adversity that matters most.
4 Things COVID-19 Taught an ER Doctor About the Power of Resilience and Hope
VIA Johnson & JohnsonVibrant Emotional Health's “Supporting Your Emotional Health During the COVID-19 Outbreak” page is regularly updated with new resources and information to help you manage your mental health during COVID-19. Click "View Full Story" below to view the entire list of resources.
COVID-19 Resources
VIA Vibrant Emotional HealthIt’s up to you on how you choose to respond to the bad thing that’s happening to you. So I chose to respond as positive as I could, and so that made a difference.
Oklahoma City bombing survivor shares story of personal transformation
VIA FOX 25I’m proud of them. They’ve walked into a hospital where they’ve never been in their lives, and they have managed to step up to the plate and take over and take very, very good care of the patients.
Diary of a Hospital: A Surgeon’s Hope “We were looking into the valley of chaos, but we found order.”
VIA The New York TimesDon’t be afraid to talk to people. One of the worst things we do with mental health is that there’s this huge stigma around it. We don’t talk about it...don’t be afraid to send someone a text and check in on other people.
Post-pandemic PTSD? Lessons from a marathon bombing survivor
VIA Associated PressThis is a story of resistance, of activism, of citizen action, of waking up and opening your eyes and making a difference in our community...about the incredible work that we did, hand in hand with our community, to make our community care about our children.
Pediatrician Who Exposed Flint Water Crisis Shares Her ‘Story Of Resistance’
VIA NPRI’m not defined by what happened to me...I am a survivor, defined by how I lived my life, not defined as being a victim.