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Growing Need for Mental Health Care a Legacy of Katrina and Oil Spill 08/27/10Today, five years after Hurricane Katrina, AmeriCares works closely with many community-based health care groups in Louisiana and Mississippi, helping people grapple with new threats to their lives and livelihoods from the massive BP oil spill coupled with the worst recession in 70 years.
The impact on the oil, tourism and fishing industries has added yet another burden for families in the region, struggling daily for economic survival and finding themselves without access to basic health care. Since the April 20 oil spill, AmeriCares has donated more than $270,000 worth of medicines and supplies to 11 Gulf Coast clinics serving the poor and uninsured, and we continue to send shipments to meet the increasing demand for health services.
The remaining images from Katrina – abandoned homes, empty lots, remnants of once thriving neighborhoods –are now joined by idle fishing boats, oil rigs and closed businesses. Many children are especially vulnerable to the long term psychological effects of fear and loss. The need for mental health services spike in the aftermath of major crises.
“Mental illness is a silent killer and contributes to serious loss of life due to suicide, domestic violence and substance abuse,” said AmeriCares Medical Director Dr. Frank Bia. “Combine psychological trauma and emotional stress with untreated chronic health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure and the consequences of lost access to primary health care multiply. “
Our Commitment to the Future
Health care access remains a focus of AmeriCares long-term presence in the region and access to specialty care such as mental health services poses a particular challenge. Since many families don't have health insurance to pay for such care, AmeriCares is making a new commitment by funding mental health assessments and counseling in the Biloxi area and other community-based health programs to identify and treat anxiety and depression, as well as increasing deliveries of mental health medicines to clinics.
Our disaster relief work along the Gulf Coast after Katrina enabled us to strengthen partnerships with community health care organizations and expand programs. As we have extended our commitment to health care access in the region beyond Katrina recovery efforts, we have delivered over $24 million in medical aid throughout the U.S. this year.
Gulf Coast Commitment:
AmeriCares disaster relief efforts save lives and restore health
Hurricane Katrina devastated millions of Americans in New Orleans and throughout Gulf Coast states. AmeriCares responded immediately - delivering critically needed medicines, supporting doctors, aiding victims and helping local aid charities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
Today, we’re still responding to people’s needs Katrina-affected neighborhoods. We support families in crisis with charitable contributions of medicines, medical supplies and emergency relief.
Since 1984, AmeriCares has delivered more than $100 million worth of lifesaving aid and disaster relief in the United States. With support from people like you, we’ve helped America recover from natural disasters - from California wildfires to deadly tornadoes which ravage small towns in the South and Midwest.
And AmeriCares stands ready to help when the next disaster strikes. We know there will be new hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters that will cause future havoc and destruction. AmeriCares will help, whenever and wherever we are needed. And we hope you will support our efforts.
As caring Americans, we have a long and proud history of not only helping our neighbors right here, but also our neighbors around the world.
That’s what AmeriCares does. Because of the giving spirit of people like you, we’ve been able to offer medical supplies, medicines and aid to some of the world’s neediest people in times of disaster and when facing the crisis of chronic poverty and disease outbreaks.
Our mission is a simple one: to provide immediate response to emergency medical needs, as well as to support long-term humanitarian assistance programs for all people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion.
But we can only continue our work abroad and here on our own shores if you act now.
More on our Hurricane Katrina Recovery Efforts
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