TUFH2026
Mental Health Disaster Preparedness Summit
From Crisis to Capacity: Practical Models for Mental Health Disaster Preparedness
The The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH), in collaboration with PreAct Global (in partnership with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and international partners) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA), invites you to a high-impact, action-oriented Pre-Summit and Summit dedicated to advancing practical, scalable solutions for mental health in disaster and emergency settings.
As crises become more frequent and complex—ranging from climate-related disasters and conflict to public health emergencies—the need for prepared, resilient, and responsive mental health systems has never been greater. This Summit moves beyond theory, focusing on what works in real-world contexts, and how to build capacity before, during, and after disasters.
Bringing together global experts, frontline practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders, this Summit is designed to build a living Community of Practice—one that extends beyond a single day and drives sustained collaboration, knowledge exchange, and implementation worldwide.
What Makes This Summit Different
It is a solutions-driven, hybrid, interactive experience that combines:
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Foundational understanding of disaster mental health systems
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Proven frameworks and field-tested models
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Interactive tabletop exercises to simulate real-world coordination
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Insights from frontline and crisis-affected settings
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Practical guidance on low-tech, high-impact interventions
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Critical discussions on the opportunities and risks of AI in mental health
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Direct access to global expertise, tools, and collaborative networks
From Knowledge to Action
Participants will:
• Explore core concepts and definitions in disaster mental health
• Engage with practical models and implementation strategies
• Learn how to design effective preparedness and response systems
• Understand multi-sector collaboration and stakeholder engagement
• Gain access to best-in-class resources and training pathways
• Join a global community of practice committed to long-term impact
PHASE 1: ROAD TO MANILA
Pre-Summit Virtual Session
A virtual pre-summit experience designed to introduce the foundations of disaster mental health while showcasing innovative approaches to preparedness, response, resilience, and recovery. Through expert presentations from international leaders, participants will explore practical strategies that will frame the discussions during the TUFH 2026 Disaster Mental Health Summit.
Pre-Summit Session
- Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM UTC (3.5 hours, including a 30-minute break)
- Topic: Foundations and Innovations in Disaster Mental Health
- Focus: Explore evidence-based and emerging approaches to disaster mental health through simulation-based training, trauma-informed care, arts and wellness, technology-enabled interventions, and artificial intelligence. The session provides participants with foundational knowledge and global perspectives that will inform the interactive discussions during the TUFH 2026 Disaster Mental Health Summit.
- Content Leads: International experts in disaster psychiatry, trauma-informed care, humanitarian response, digital mental health, and arts-based healing.
Featured Sessions
- Arts and Wellness: Healing Through Storytelling and Film
- High Tech/Low Tech Interventions: Lessons from Ukraine
- Healing Through the Body: Drama Therapy in War Zones
- Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges in Disaster Mental Health
Low-Tech, High-Impact: Delivering Mental Health Support in Crisis Settings
Learn how effective mental health interventions can be delivered in the most challenging environments using simple, accessible tools. Drawing on frontline experience from Ukraine, this session highlights practical, adaptable approaches that maintain high quality of care, even in low-resource and rapidly changing crisis settings.
Healing Through the Body: Drama Therapy to Address Trauma in War Zones
Presenter: Michael D. Reisman
Organization: Institute for Developmental Transformations
Country: United States
Armed conflicts have increased the demand for mental health services and placed great strain onhealth systems. In Ukraine during the full-scale war with Russia, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has risen to greater than 50% in the Kyiv region, and
countrywide one in five children experience clinically relevant symptoms of PTSD. A promisingtool for addressing the vast unmet need for treatment is drama therapy, which is the deliberate use of drama and/or theatrical processes to achieve therapeutic goals, including emotional expression and containment, stress reduction, and empowerment.
This interactive workshop will explore group drama therapy techniques used in Ukraine with adults, children, displaced persons, and veterans exposed to traumatic events. The techniques, which focus on playful, embodied improvisation, have allowed individuals to feel a sense of
community, safely express emotions, and reduce stress. The session will begin with a brief overview of drama therapy principles and their application in
Ukraine to set the context. Then we will engage in interactive group work to allow participants to experience drama therapy techniques first-hand. We will have time for discussion about potential
applications.
Workshop format: Lecturette, experiential group process Who should attend: Policy makers and health administrators; representatives of community organizations, non-governmental organizations, regulatory bodies, and medical schools; front
line health workers and community health advocates.
PHASE 2: TUFH 2026
TUFH 2026 Summit Session
- Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026 | 09:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Local Conference Time – Manila, Philippines)
- Topic: Building Resilient Disaster Mental Health Systems
- Focus: Examine practical frameworks, implementation strategies, and collaborative models that strengthen disaster mental health preparedness, response, recovery, and system resilience. Through interactive discussions and case-based learning, participants will explore approaches that can be adapted across diverse communities and health systems.
- Content Leads: International leaders in disaster mental health, emergency psychiatry, psychological preparedness, health systems resilience, and global emergency response.
Featured Sessions
- Foundations of Disaster Mental Health
- The MARCCD Model: A Framework for Disaster Mental Health
- Best-in-Class Resources for Disaster Mental Health Practice
- Local Needs Assessment and Interactive Discussion
Register for the TUFH 2026 Disaster Mental Health Summit by registering for TUFH 2026
Foundations of Disaster Mental Health: Core Concepts, Systems, and Community Approaches
Gain a clear, practical introduction to disaster mental health, including key definitions, core principles, and the structure of effective community-based responses. This session will provide a shared foundation for all participants, ensuring a common language and understanding to support collaboration, coordination, and real-world implementation in crisis settings.
The MARCCD Model (Modular Approach to Resilience and Community Care in Disasters): Building Coordinated, Scalable Mental Health Responses
Explore the MARCCD model as a structured, systems-based approach to mental health disaster preparedness and response. This session introduces its core components and demonstrates how it enables coordination across sectors, rapid mobilization, and continuity of care in crisis settings. Through expert discussion, participants will reflect on real-world applications, adaptability across contexts, and how the model can be integrated into existing health and community systems.
Public Consent
