New location, hours for F.I.S.H. community partner
F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva has been working with two community partners, Project H.O.P.E. and SalusCare, to bring mental health resources to Sanibel and Captiva following Hurricane Ian.
As part of its long-term recovery program, F.I.S.H. has been offering services out of The Gathering Place @ St. Michael’s at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church on Sanibel, in a partnership with the church. Project H.O.P.E. and SalusCare have also been providing services out of the space.
“We realize many storm survivors are struggling with emotional stress, trauma and anxiety since Ian, and formed important partnerships to address these issues,” F.I.S.H. Executive Director Maria Espinoza said. “When Hurricane Idalia recently threatened our area, it became abundantly clear how necessary mental health resources are as they relate to hurricane survivors.”
Project H.O.P.E. will now be available on Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. at F.I.S.H.’s new location — formerly Gene’s Books — to offer open discussions on post-storm trauma, such as mental exhaustion, decision-making, financial fears and more. Its services were previously available on Wednesdays.
SalusCare will continue to provide mental health offerings on Wednesdays at The Gathering Place. SalusCare’s Laura Guarino leads group therapy focused on hurricane-related topics, like PTSD, trauma and loss, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and remains on-site until 2 p.m. for mini one-on-one sessions.
F.I.S.H. will also continue to provide services at The Gathering Place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those include social and senior services outlining disaster financial assistance, youth scholarships, emergency financial assistance and additional F.I.S.H. programs, plus information and assistance provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“We encourage anyone who is coping with anxiety, depression and/or PTSD to seek assistance,” she said. “SalusCare and Project H.O.P.E. are behavioral healthcare experts and can provide assistance and additional resources.”
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or chat with someone online at 988lifeline.org. Additionally, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration operates a free 24/7 crisis counseling helpline for people involved in disasters, including hurricanes and tropical storms. People can call or text 800-985-5990 and Spanish speakers can press 2 for help; third-party interpretation services are available for over 100 other languages.
For more information about F.I.S.H.’s programs and services, visit www.fishofsancap.org or contact Espinoza at 239-472-4775. People can also visit F.I.S.H. on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter.
F.I.S.H.’s new location is at 2422 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, at 2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. To access The Gathering Place, enter off of Dunlop Road and park in the back fenced-in area.