Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
September 6, 2005, Vol. 05-116

Mental Health Resources for Individuals Affected by Hurricane Katrina

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://sites.ts.samhsa.gov/sites/adca/Documents/TipsDealStressSAMHSA.doc

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://nmhicstore.samhsa.gov/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.
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Publication: Recovering Your Mental Health: Dealing with the Effects of Trauma

http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA-3717/SMA-3717.pdf

-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 Telephone Number: (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://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SRG-AL/SRG-AL.pdf

Georgia

Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
246 Sycamore Street
Suite 160
Decatur, GA 30030
Telephone Number: (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://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SRG-GA/SRG-GA.pdf

Louisiana

Debra Lavergne
Meaningful Minds of Louisiana
4105 Kirkman Street
Lake Charles, LA 70607
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://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SRG-LA/SRG-LA.pdf

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://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SRG-MS/SRG-MS.pdf

Texas

Mike Halligan
Director
Texas Mental Health Consumers
7701 N. Lamar Suite 500
Austin, TX 78752
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://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SRG-TX/SRG-TX.pdf

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
UR: http://www.consumerstar.org

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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.