Comments on: Mental Health, FEMA, & Katrina http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/08/22/mental-health-fema-katrina/ Dr. John Grohol's daily update on all things in psychology and mental health. Since 1999. Fri, 25 May 2012 15:58:44 +0000 hourly 1 By: Nancy http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/08/22/mental-health-fema-katrina/comment-page-1/#comment-84975 Nancy Sun, 03 Sep 2006 08:33:02 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/08/22/mental-health-fema-katrina/#comment-84975 Though the XXI century is passed for the age of psychologists and lawyers, it’s a pitiable to realize that in the face of disaster we are still unsecured and have no noticeable professional and governmental assistance either in the US or in any other part of the world. Though the XXI century is passed for the age of psychologists and lawyers, it’s a pitiable to realize that in the face of disaster we are still unsecured and have no noticeable professional and governmental assistance either in the US or in any other part of the world.

]]> By: JDPhD http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/08/22/mental-health-fema-katrina/comment-page-1/#comment-82221 JDPhD Thu, 24 Aug 2006 02:59:25 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/08/22/mental-health-fema-katrina/#comment-82221 August 24th is the anniversary of Hurricane Andrew which devasted Southern Dade County Florida in 1992. The incidence of mental unwellness due to it's impact was great. No government assistance was ever given for mental health workers, private psychologists, etc, to treat the victims. The incidence of PTSD rose dramatically, and the suffering continues to this day. http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/facts/disasters/fs_natural_disasters.html I feel greatly for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, in all the States: Fl, LA, MS. What we, victims of Hurricane Andrew, learned was that you cannot rely upon government to help you. You cannot rely upon the non-profits to help you. You might be able to rely upon your neighbors, should they live through the disaster. On ANDREW'S 10th anniversary the government finally admitted that, indeed, Hurricane Andrew was a category 5 storm. They refuse to admit, still, the death toll. I'm sure the thousands who died in Katrina will likewise be secreted. This denial only adds, in my opinion and many expert's, to the incidence of mental illness. With all the disasters that have beset this Nation recently (in the scheme of history) what we need from the government is a national program to treat it's Citizens for PTSD. What I see as part of the problem is that people who have not experienced a disaster don't realize the need, and those who have stood in the face of death, are unable because of that experience, to advocate for themselves and others for this need. August 24th is the anniversary of Hurricane Andrew which devasted Southern Dade County Florida in 1992.
The incidence of mental unwellness due to it’s impact was great. No government assistance
was ever given for mental health workers, private psychologists, etc, to treat the victims. The incidence of PTSD rose dramatically, and the suffering continues to this day. http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/facts/disasters/fs_natural_disasters.html

I feel greatly for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, in all the States: Fl, LA, MS. What we, victims of Hurricane Andrew, learned was that you cannot rely upon government to help you. You cannot rely upon the
non-profits to help you. You might be able to rely upon your neighbors, should they live through the disaster.

On ANDREW’S 10th anniversary the government finally admitted that, indeed, Hurricane Andrew was a category 5 storm. They refuse to admit, still, the death toll. I’m sure the thousands who died in Katrina will likewise be secreted. This
denial only adds, in my opinion and many expert’s, to the incidence of mental illness.

With all the disasters that have beset this Nation recently (in the scheme of history) what we need from the
government is a national program to treat it’s Citizens for PTSD. What I see as part of the problem is that
people who have not experienced a disaster don’t realize the need, and those who have stood in the face of
death, are unable because of that experience, to advocate for themselves and others for this need.

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