Mental Illness after Katrina

[Guest guest]

_http://morethancoping.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/mentally-ill-struggle-in-pos

t-katrina-new-orleans/_

(http://morethancoping.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/mentally-ill-struggle-in-post-ka\

trina-new-orleans/)

Such dramatic scenes are near-daily experiences for Mr. Graff, a member of

a special New Orleans Police Crisis Unit, the only one of its kind in the

nation, that responds to 911 calls and transports mental patients to

hospitals.

• Click _here_

(http://www.washingtontimes.com/interactives/post-katrina-mental-health-woes/'))\

to visit the interactive Web site accompanying this

series of articles about New Orleans’ struggles with mental illness

post-Katrina.

The unit is fighting a worsening crisis of Katrina-related mental illness

that most Americans know nothing about.

<br>

“No one sees this on a daily basis like we do. This is all we do. It’s a

three-ring circus, and I’ve got a front-row seat,†Mr. Graff said.

Almost four years after the massive hurricane inundated much of New Orleans

and killed about 1,800 people, millions of words have been written about

the devastating physical damage to the city, and hundreds of millions of

dollars have been spent on the fitful efforts at reconstruction.

But almost nothing is said — and relatively little has been spent — on a

more silent wreckage: the health of New Orleans residents who were pushed

over the edge by the terror and turmoil of the storm and have been unable to

recover, emotionally or mentally.

The Washington Times spent more than three weeks on the streets of New

Orleans this spring chronicling the crisis. Reporters and a photographer

traveled with the police crisis unit and conducted scores of interviews with

victims, their families and the front-line responders.

In a city that has famously grappled with mental illness for decades,

caregivers on the front lines say the problem has grown exponentially since

Katrina — and that the number of sufferers still in need of help easily runs

into the thousands. Despite the rising scourge, the number of available

hospital beds to treat the mentally ill in New Orleans has decreased by more

than half. Locals have coined their own name for the mostly silent crisis:

post-Katrina stress disorder.

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[Guest guest]

This one really makes me angry. If the insurance industry and other

stakeholders would tell the truth about the health effects of toxic mold, then

these people could get proper treatment.

________________________________

From: " snk1955@... " <snk1955@...>

Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:51:08 AM

Subject: [] Mental Illness after Katrina

_http://morethancopi ng.wordpress. com/2009/ 08/04/mentally- ill-struggle-

in-pos

t-katrina-new- orleans/_

(http://morethancopi ng.wordpress. com/2009/ 08/04/mentally- ill-struggle-

in-post-katrina- new-orleans/)

Such dramatic scenes are near-daily experiences for Mr. Graff, a member of

a special New Orleans Police Crisis Unit, the only one of its kind in the

nation, that responds to 911 calls and transports mental patients to

hospitals.

• Click _here_

(http://www.washingtontimes.com/interactives/post-katrina-mental-health-woes/'))\

to visit the interactive Web site accompanying this

series of articles about New Orleans’ struggles with mental illness

post-Katrina.

The unit is fighting a worsening crisis of Katrina-related mental illness

that most Americans know nothing about.

<br>

“No one sees this on a daily basis like we do. This is all we do. It’s a

three-ring circus, and I’ve got a front-row seat,†Mr. Graff said.

Almost four years after the massive hurricane inundated much of New Orleans

and killed about 1,800 people, millions of words have been written about

the devastating physical damage to the city, and hundreds of millions of

dollars have been spent on the fitful efforts at reconstruction.

But almost nothing is said — and relatively little has been spent — on a

more silent wreckage: the health of New Orleans residents who were pushed

over the edge by the terror and turmoil of the storm and have been unable to

recover, emotionally or mentally.

The Washington Times spent more than three weeks on the streets of New

Orleans this spring chronicling the crisis. Reporters and a photographer

traveled with the police crisis unit and conducted scores of interviews with

victims, their families and the front-line responders.

In a city that has famously grappled with mental illness for decades,

caregivers on the front lines say the problem has grown exponentially since

Katrina — and that the number of sufferers still in need of help easily runs

into the thousands. Despite the rising scourge, the number of available

hospital beds to treat the mentally ill in New Orleans has decreased by more

than half. Locals have coined their own name for the mostly silent crisis:

post-Katrina stress disorder.

************ **A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy

steps!

(http://pr.atwola. com/promoclk/ 100126575x122284 6709x1201493018/ aol?redir=

http://www. freecreditreport .com/pm/default. aspx?sc=668072 & hmpgID=115 & bcd

=JulystepsfooterNO1 15)

[Guest guest]

You got that right. Lest we not forget that they told Dr. Shoemaker to leave

when he went to help....

This one really makes me angry. If the insurance industry and other stakeholders

would tell the truth about the health effects of toxic mold, then these people

could get proper treatment.

____________ _________ _________ __

From: " snk1955aol (DOT) com " <snk1955aol (DOT) com>

Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:51:08 AM

Subject: [] Mental Illness after Katrina

_http://morethancopi ng.wordpress. com/2009/ 08/04/mentally- ill-struggle-

in-pos

t-katrina-new- orleans/_

(http://morethancopi ng.wordpress. com/2009/ 08/04/mentally- ill-struggle-

in-post-katrina- new-orleans/ )