Guest commentary: One year after hurricane and many still hurting
Before, during and after Hurricane Ian, the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades has prioritized the needs of our community with a focus on those who lost their homes, belongings or jobs due to the storm’s impact on our region, as well as those struggling with their emotional health.
In addition to our direct response with boots-on-ground volunteers and staff in the region’s hardest hit areas, the United Way supported local agencies and programs with gift cards, funding and donated goods. The United Way led distribution sites and even provided hands-on support for debris removal and repairs.
While we continue to provide donations and other essentials as folks continue the various phases of rebuilding, renovating or moving back home, the mental health needs of hurricane survivors continue to be the number one reason people reach out to United Way 211 for help.
Experts have long documented that natural disasters, such as a hurricane, can trigger anxiety and depression or contribute to an existing mental illness. At the United Way, we want to reassure the community that there are different stages of grief, and that the United Way is committed to recovery for the long haul. It’s not over because we hit the one-year mark since the hurricane. Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, such as a hurricane, that can linger for years.
In fact, 75% of 211 callers show signs of mental stress, and our 211 community resource specialists lend an empathetic ear and compassionately guide those struggling with resources to help them. It’s important for people to recognize that the hurricane impacted people from all socioeconomic backgrounds. We’ve had calls from affluent members of our community with high-paying jobs who suddenly found themselves financially devastated after losing everything. Fighting unexpected insurance battles, many people are maxing out their credit cards and finding themselves in a desperate place for the first time in their lives. Thankfully, our 211 team is able to help them navigate these challenges, offer them help and, more importantly, give them hope for the future.
We can’t emphasize enough — it is OK to ask for help, no matter the circumstance. The more you can free up the stressors you are feeling and gain some control, the better you feel mentally.
One year later, the best thing we can do is not to forget. Check on your family, friends and neighbors, because they might not be OK, even if they have new floors and have moved back into their home. If you think they need help, they probably do. Call 211 together.
Consider volunteering. Research has found that volunteering provides physical and mental health benefits, and the need for volunteers continues in our community. Visit Volunteer.UnitedWayLee.org to sign up.
Most importantly, be exceptionally kind, show empathy and reach out for help. Just dial 211 or 239-433-3900. The United Way is here to connect you to resources available. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please dial 988. The 988 Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support and crisis counseling to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States.
Jeannine Joy is president and chief executive officer for the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties. It is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in the community through fundraising, fund distribution, community building, volunteer advancement, and information and referral. For more information, visit https://unitedwaylee.org/.