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Counselors Support Disaster Victims’ Mental Health Needs
Written by
Lesly Hallman
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Friday, August 20, 2004 — Treating the stress of living in the wake of a disaster is as much a part of the recovery process as rebuilding a damaged home, and the American Red Cross has a team of trained counselors in Florida helping the victims of Hurricane Charley deal with the mental aspects of this disaster.
“Very often when people suffer a trauma, we see a rise in abuses of all sorts, including drugs, alcohol or physical abuse,” according to Carolyn Doerfert, coordinator for the Red Cross mental health response in Florida. “To combat that rise, we have mental health counselors at almost every site where the Red Cross is offering services.”
An elderly resident at a Red Cross shelter gets assistance from a volunteer. (Photo by Bonnie Gillespie). |
There are about 80 Red Cross mental health counselors on the ground, working in shelters, service centers, and out of emergency response vehicles (ERV) visiting affected neighborhoods. Doerfert said her team is also receiving significant assistance from local volunteers with counseling experience and local health departments. Additionally, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson deployed 10 nurses and 10 mental health providers to assist the Red Cross.
Services offered run the gamut from talking and listening as disaster victims describe their experiences, to providing referrals to medical professionals in extreme cases.
“We provide a lot of education on self care, and we try to tell people what they can expect in the future as their recovery advances,” Doerfert said.
Counselors also spend time making sure that the volunteers working on site have the support they need to process their own feelings. “People are seeing a lot of things that are very disturbing, and it’s kind of wild and stressful, but in the end we are so glad that we are able to do this,” Doerfert said.
Doerfert described the mental health counselors and other Red Cross volunteers as the “first receivers” who are often forgotten when the recovery efforts end.
“This country has a wonderful first responder’s network, but we are the first receivers,” said Doerfert. “After all the firemen and policemen have done their wonderful work, the Red Cross and others are the ones who take you in and help when you are cold or wet or naked. We are the ones to wrap a blanket around you and help you get back to how you once were.”
Other Health Needs Also a Concern
Physical health problems are also a concern to local officials. Extreme heat, no electricity, and little access to water or ice in Southwest Florida have many concerned that more injuries or deaths may occur in the wake of Hurricane Charley.
Children staying in a shelter in Sarasota use coloring books to keep busy. (Photo by Bonnie Gillespie) |
In the days following the hurricane temperatures reached into the 90s, just as many residents were outside, braving the heat and humidity to assess the damage to their homes or businesses. With hundreds of thousands still without power, there is little relief from the sweltering temperatures.
During a visit to a shelter earlier this week, American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans encouraged residents to continue to come into air conditioned Red Cross shelters rather than staying in weather-damaged homes. Red Cross emergency response vehicles (ERVs) continue to canvas affected areas providing food and water, but supplies are running low, and local chapters continue to run shelters in counties all around Florida for affected residents at no charge.
“We are worried about the health effects of people without air conditioning, drinkable water or proper nutrition,” said Evans. “We are in the neighborhoods passing out food and water, but in the shelters we provide all of this and more. In shelters people will have a little more access to services they need.”
Experts also agree that perishable food is no longer safe to eat after 24 to 48 hours, but in the days since the storm hit, many residents are living in their homes without power, and health officials are concerned that many may also be eating unhealthy foods and drinking unsafe water.
The Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services and the Florida Department of Health have all issued guidance to residents on everything from boiling water to eliminate bacteria, to protecting oneself from mosquito bites, which can lead to West Nile Virus. Locations offering free water and ice have been opened in the days following the storm, but long lines are keeping many away.
You can help the victims of Hurricane Charley and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting our Online Donation Page.
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