NEW ORLEANS, Apr 30, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Mental health advocates are
urging a new push to provide psychiatric help for Louisiana residents still
suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
A survey released Tuesday found that two-thirds of the residents surveyed in
coastal Louisiana couldn't identify any of the resources available to Katrina
survivors plagued with mental health issues.
"I don't think we're doing as good a job as we can at meeting communities where
they are," said women's health advocate Ghairunisa Galeta.
The Times-Picayune, a New Orleans newspaper, said professionals meeting Tuesday
in New Orleans noted that mental healthcare still has a stigma in the region;
however it was proposed that teaming up with faith-based groups and other
trusted organizations might be effective.
The survey also found that while two-thirds of respondents agreed that the 2005
storm impacted the overall mental health of their communities, 41 percent said
that while the storm may have effected them they saw no need for counseling.
The survey conducted on behalf of Pfizer, Research!America and Tulane and
Louisiana State Universities polled 800 adults. The margin of error was 3.5
percentage points.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International