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National Empowerment Center

Mental Health Resources for Individuals Affected by Hurricane Katrina


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Peer Support Services, Self-Help Resources, Disaster and Trauma Support, and Educational Materials

As the nation witnesses the impact of one of the most devastating storms to hit our shores, SAMHSA and other agencies of the federal government have been mobilizing to meet the mental health needs of those citizens caught in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Of particular importance is to ensure the availability of recovery-based services and resources that address the needs of individuals with mental health problems in the affected States.

Natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina can be doubly difficult for individuals with mental health problems. The sudden loss of ongoing natural supports, home, family, and access to treatment, medications and services can be a stressful ordeal. For more information on how to manage the stress, anxiety, grief, sadness, and anger often associated with disaster events, please go to the following link:

http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/KEN-01-0097/default.asp

For information on supports for people in storm-damaged areas and the workers who are taking care of those who have been devastated, see: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/katrina/

SAMHSA's Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) is designed to prepare States, Territories, and local entities to deliver an effective behavioral health response during disasters. For more information, please go to: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/dtac/

For online publications on mental health issues related to disasters and trauma, please go to: http://store.mentalhealth.org/cmhs/EmergencyServices/pubs.aspx

In addition to providing personnel and funding for grants to make mental health services available, including support for medications, in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas (for evacuees), SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services is providing the following beginning resource list for consumers in the region who are interested in access to self-help and recovery-based resources.

Publication: Recovering Your Mental Health: Dealing with the Effects of Trauma

http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA-3717/default.asp  - This self-help booklet focuses on helping individuals cope with traumatic events and makes suggestions of how they can take charge of their own recovery. It also provides a list of additional resources.

Peer Supports

Peer support has shown to be invaluable in assisting mental health consumers during times of disaster. The following are resources in the impacted States and neighboring States sheltering evacuees.

Alabama

Alabama Consumers Empowerment & Supports, Incorporated
400 Eastern Boulevard Suite 201 Montgomery, AL 36117
Phone: (334) 395-7616 Toll-free: 1- (888) WINGSAL
E-mail: bcpwings@bellsouth.net

Mike Autrey
Director Consumer & Ex-patient Relations
100 N. Union Street P.O. Box 301410 Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1410 Phone: (334) 242-3456 Fax: (334) 242-3025
E-mail: michael.autrey@mh.alabama.gov

AL State Mental Health Resource Guide: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/stateresourceguides/ Alabama01.asp  

Georgia

Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
246 Sycamore Street Suite 160 Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 687-9487
www.gmhcn.org

Larry Fricks
Director Office of Consumer Relations Department of Mental Health
2 Peachtree Street, N.W., Suite 23-411 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3142
Phone: (404) 657-2100 Fax: (404) 657-4349
E-mail: lfricks@dhr.state.ga.us

GA State Mental Health Resource Guide: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ stateresourceguides/Georgia01.asp  

Louisiana

Debra Lavergne Meaningful Minds of Louisiana
4105 Kirkman Street Lake Charles, LA 70607
Phone: 337-475-8706
dlavergne@dhh.la.gov

Margaret Mitchell
Director Office of Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 4049 Bin #12 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821
Phone: (225) 342-3624 Fax: (225) 342-5066
E-mail: mmitch@dhh.la.us

LA State Mental Health Resource Guide: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ stateresourceguides/Louisiana01.asp  

Mississippi

Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System
5305 Executive Place, Suite A Jackson, MS 39206
Phone: 601-981-8207 (TDD) Fax: 601-981-8313 Toll-free: 800-772-4057
E-mail: mspna@bellsouth.net
Internet: www.mspas.com

MS State Mental Health Resource Guide: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ stateresourceguides/Mississippi01.asp  

Texas

Mike Halligan
Director Texas Mental Health Consumers
7701 N. Lamar Suite 500 Austin, TX 78752
Phone: 800-860-6057 512-451-3191
www.tmhc.org

Cindy Hopkins
Director Office of Consumer Affairs
909 W. 45th P.O. Box 12668 Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: (512) 206-5759 Fax: (512) 206-5770
E-mail: cindy.hopkins@mhmr.state.tx.us

TX State Mental Health Resource Guide: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ stateresourceguides/Texas01.asp  

National

Consumer Organization and Networking Technical Assistance Center (CONTAC) Kathy Muscari
P. O. Box 11000 Charleston, West Virginia 25339
Toll Free Phone: 1/888/ 825-8324 Phone: (304) 345-7312
E-mail: usacontac@contac.org
URL: http://www.contac.org

National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
Christine Simiriglia
1211 Chestnut Street Suite 1100 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
Toll Free Phone: 1/800/553-4539 Phone: (215) 751-1810
E-mail: info@mhselfhelp.org
URL: http://www.mhselfhelp.org

National Empowerment Center (NEC)
Judene Shelley
599 Canal Street Lawrence, Massachusetts 01840
Toll Free Phone: (800) 769-3728 Phone: (978)685-1518
URL: http://www.Power2u.org

National Mental Health Association Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center (NCSTAC)
Sara Thompson
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor Alexandria, VA 22311
NMHA's mailing address is P.O. Box 16810, Alexandria, Va., 22302-0810
Phone for MHA: 703/684-7722 Toll Free: 1/800/969-6642 extension #7 for NCSTAC
URL: http://www.ncstac.org

NAMI Support, Technical Assistance, and Resource Center (STAR)
Ramiro Guevara 2107 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300 Arlington, Virginia 22201- 3042
TAC Toll Free: 1/866-537STAR (7827) Phone: (703) 516-7996
E-mail: star@nami.org
Phone: (703) 516-7226 URl: http://www.consumerstar.org