April Naturale, MSW, PhD

DRLA Senior Fellow

She/Her

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April Naturale.

Biography

Dr. Naturale is a traumatic stress specialist focused on crisis intervention, behavioral health response to disasters and mass violence, and suicide prevention. She has provided traumatic stress response training and consultation throughout the U.S. having led the NY mental health response to 9/11/01, the Boston Marathon bombing and responding to over 40 natural disasters and 14 of the last mass violence shooting events. Dr. Naturale also helped launch the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Disaster Distress Helpline and was the Interim Executive Director for the transition to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Internationally, she helped launch the Ukrainian Lifeline, training veterans and other responders on their suicide prevention hotline. Additionally, she has trained Psychologists in the Ukraine Military Service, Humanitarian Aid workers for the European Union and helped launch the European Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism.

Education

  • PhD in Clinical Social Work, New York University
  • Master of Science in Social Work, Columbia University

Highlights, Honors & Awards

  • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Florence Gould Gross Award
  • New York State Office of Mental Health Employee Award
  • New York Police Department Shields Award
  • Louisiana State University Education Award
  • Master Training Certification International Trauma Studies Program, Columbia University and the TransCultural Psychosocial Organization, 2009
  • National Center for Crisis Management / Academy of Traumatic Stress Specialists, 2016
  • International Society of Trauma Stress Specialists Advanced Training Certificate, 2015
  • Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Certification, 1985

Selected Publications

  • Naturale, A. (2025). The first trauma-informed critical incident review: The active shooter mass violence incident at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26 September 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.70014
  • Naturale, A. (2024). A look back at responding to the acute mental health needs after Hurricane Katrina. Traumatology, April 7, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000565
  • Stephenson, A.H., Naturale, A. Miller, A., and Pinals, D. A. (2024). Crisis Systems Coordination and Collaboration: Leveraging Strengths and Opportunity of 988 and 911. Prepared for SAMHSA under Task 2.2 of NASMHPD’s Technical Assistance Coalition contract/task order, HHSS283201700024I/75S20321F42001. Rockville, MD. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
  • Davino-Ramaya, Carrie, Lippy, Saskia, Naturale, April, Feist, J., Cipriano, Pamela, & Clark, Dawn. (2023). Burnout and the Effect on the Global Health Care Workforce Crisis: An Expert Panel Discussion. The Permanente journal. 27. 1-12. 10.7812/TPP/23.053.
  • Naturale, A. (July-August, 2019). “Correcting our Knowledge about How Older Adults Respond to the Trauma of   Disasters.” Aging Today. (40). No.4.
  • Naturale, A. (2019). “Disasters.” Macmillan Encyclopedia of Intimate and Family Relationships: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Macmillan Reference, USA.
  • Naturale, A., Lowney, L. & Sole Brito, C. (2017). Lessons learned from the Boston Marathon bombing victim services program. Clinical Social Work Journal Special issue: The role of SW in the aftermath of disasters and traumatic events, (45)2:99-188, 2017.
  • Naturale, A. & Rucker, L. (2017). “What can disaster behavioral health actually do to make emergency managers jobs easier?” In (Eds.). Integrating Emergency Management and Disaster Behavioral Health. Edited by B. Flynn
    and R. Sherman. Elsevier.
  • Naturale, A. “How do we understand disaster-related vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue? In (Eds.). Vicarious Trauma and Disaster Mental Health. Understanding Risks and Promoting Resilience. Edited by G. Quitangon and M.R. Evces. Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, 2015.
  • Naturale, A. “Community Mental Health: Cross Cultural Mental Health Response in Disasters.” In (Eds.). Community Mental Health. Edited by J. Rosenberg, J. Rosenberg. Routledge, 2012.
  • Naturale, A. & Pulido, M.L. “Helping the Helpers: Ameliorating Secondary Traumatic Stress in Disaster Workers.”  In (Eds.), Behavioral Health Response to Disasters. Edited by J.L. Framingham, M.L. Teasley. FL: CRC Press, 2012.
  • Naturale, April. “It’s been 10 years since 9-11-01”. The Dialogue. A Quarterly Technical Assistance Bulletin on Disaster Behavioral Health. United States Department of Health and Human Services/Substance Abuse and 
    Mental Health Services Administration, 8(1): 2-4, 2011.
  • Tosone, C., McTighe, J.P., Bauwens, J. & Naturale, A. “Shared Traumatic Stress and the Long-Term Impact of 9/11 on Manhattan Clinicians.” Journal of Traumatic Stress 24(5): 546-552, 2011.
  • Hamblen, J. L., Norris, F. H., Pietruszkiewicz, Siobhan, Gibson, L.E., Naturale, A., & Louis, Claudine. “CBT for 
    Postdisaster Distress: A Community Based Treatment Program for Survivors of Hurricane Katrina.” Administration and Policy in Mental Health & Mental Health Services Research, 36(3): 206-214, 2009.
  • Naturale, April. “Secondary Traumatic Stress in Social Workers: Reports from the field.” Clinical Social Work Journal 35: 173-181, 2007.
  • Naturale, April. “Ask the Field.” The Dialogue. A Quarterly Technical Assistance Bulletin on Disaster Behavioral 
    Health. United States Department of Health and Human Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
    Administration. Winter 2007.
  • Gibson, Laura E., Ruzek, J.I., Naturale, A.J., Watson, P.J., Bryant, R. A., Rynearson, T., Young, B.H., & Hamblen, J.L. “Interventions for individuals after mass violence and disaster.” Journal of Trauma Practice 5(4):1-28, 2006.
  • Young, B. H., Ruzek, J.I., Wong, M., Salzer, M., Naturale, A., & Wisher, R. “Comprehensive disaster mental health training content and delivery: Guidelines and considerations.” In (Eds.), Mass violence and early intervention. Edited by M.J. Friedman, P.J. Watson, E.C. Ritchie, R. Orner. New York: Guilford Press, 2006.
  • Naturale, April. “Mental health outreach strategies: An Experiential Description of the Outreach Methodologies 
    Utilized in the New York 9/11 Disaster Response.” In (Eds.), Mass violence and early intervention. Edited by M. J. Friedman, P.J. Watson, E.C. Ritchie, R. Orner. New York: Guilford Press, 2006.
  • Naturale, April. “Project Liberty: Lessons learned.” Edited by Danieli, Y., & Dingman, R. On the ground after 
    September 11: Mental health responses and practical knowledge gained. New York: Guildford Press, 2005.
  • Naturale, April. “Real world issues: Disaster mental health training in New York State following 9/11.” Submitted for: The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Disaster Handbook, 2003.

Selected News & Media

Community Involvement

  • Board Member, Dignity Beyond Borders, 2023-Present
  • Board Member, Aftermath Solutions, 2025
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police Suicide Prevention Committee, 2023-Present
  • National Association of Social Workers, 1982–Present
  • International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 2002–Present
    • Chair, Public Education Committee, 2011–2012
    • Chair, Memorial Taskforce, 2012–2014
    • Co-Chair, Early Intervention Special Interest Group, 2012-Present
  • European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 2014-Present
  • National Center for Crisis Management/American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, 2016-Present