Crisis Counseling Is Still Available To Hurricane Victims
Release Date: September 12, 2007
Release Number: 1603-711
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Many Louisiana residents continue to cope with the psychological aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Free crisis counseling is available through Louisiana Spirit and a partnership between the state of Louisiana and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"The concerns being raised by hurricane survivors now, two years after the disasters are especially hard to deal with. Many express feeling depressed, anxious, irritable, angry and frustrated, making work and family life more difficult," said Louisiana Spirit Executive Director Charles G. Cook, LSW. "Louisiana Spirit counselors help by talking through these normal emotions, so that important decisions can be made with a clear head, and family and friends can enjoy each other's company."
Anxiety, despair and depression are common emotions experienced by both children and adults following Katrina and the devastating floods. These feelings are compounded by the stress of living in a new environment, starting a new job or school and the struggle to rebuild. LA Spirit can help you and your family cope.
One call to the Louisiana Spirit 24 Hour Helpline (1-800-273-TALK) will put you in contact with professionally trained counselors who are available to provide emotional support, counseling, information and referrals by phone or face to face. Crisis counseling is free, confidential and available to those who lived in the area affected by hurricanes Katrina or Rita.
LA Spirit has 680 staff members working across the state. Their mission is to "offer crisis counseling that empowers Louisiana hurricane survivors to build resilience, recover and move towards self sufficiency." To date, they have served nearly 1.1 million victims of Katrina and Rita and handed out over 7 million resources.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 12-Sep-2007 09:21:56