Operational Stress Injuries in Disaster Responders: A Framework for Supporting Mental Health in Climate Crisis.

The rising occurrence of natural disasters linked to climate change has drawn the attention of disaster response leaders to the significance of addressing operational stress injuries among disaster response personnel. We define and describe operational stress injuries in this workforce and explore theoretical frameworks that can inform the development of programs and interventions to mitigate these effects. We aim to establish a conceptual framework for understanding an operational stress injury by introducing a model specific to disaster responders. We also emphasize strategies that can be employed within a stress injury awareness framework to promote the mental well-being of those who respond to climate-related disasters.