Taking Action

Community members living with environmental contamination may experience chronic stress for various reasons. While it is normal for some community members to feel stress in these situations, chronic stress can pose health risks on top of those associated with exposure to contaminants.

This Resource Center outlines a framework for reducing community stress and building resilience as part of public health responses to environmental contamination. Communities have different practical, informational, social, and emotional needs and assets. The framework provides guidance and resources to understand, prevent, and address problems that cause stress. It is not a specific intervention.

Use this Resource Center to support community members; do not avoid or sideline their primary concerns by focusing on stress.