A number of related changes have evolved over the past 25 years: the development of a truly national disaster mental health service in Israel; progress in the science of risk, resilience and evidence base care for those suffering from traumatic stress related disorders; and the development of conceptual models of population level disaster mental health response in the context of emergency management systems such as the Incident Command System. In a recent IJHPR article, Bodas, et al. report on the dynamic history of disaster mental health response in Israel, which informed by the all too numerous real world events affecting the region. What is most striking is that the system now in place reflects true "lessons learned" in that problems and issues identified in incidents informed deliberative planning, and the current system reflects many iterations of "lessons observed and learned". There appears to be commitment across sectors of government in Israel that the mental health consequences of disasters and terrorism are important and a priority. This is advanced thinking and sound policy. As the system in Israel continues to evolve, additional possibilities are offered for further consideration, based on the author's US-centric experience, to advance emergency response systems in Israel, the Middle East and around the world.

Policy makers and decision makers are struggling to recognize the needs of shattered communities in the wake of unimaginable devastation. Professional psychology is providing some of the answers as it examines the consequences of disaster. The authors, 6 U.S. Public Health Service commissioned officers, describe their experiences in this new arena. Working at the federal, state, and local levels of government during the national response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the authors strive to identify high-value practice areas and define new roles for professional psychologists. The authors suggest that traditional crisis and trauma interventions are expanding to include nontraditional population-based and macrosystems-level interventions. Such roles are explored in narrative form, providing professional and personal insight into the impact that psychologists can have on decision makers who recognize their value and position them effectively. © 2008 American Psychological Association.