April 20, 2011
It’s been one year since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the disaster continues to have a profound effect on the mental health of many Gulf Coast residents. With funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), EDC has created practical resources and materials for educators, health providers, and communities to respond to mental health issues in the region.
To date, more than 1,500 toolkits have been sent to schools in and around the Gulf Coast, and several town hall meetings have been held to inform educators about the resources that are available for students and families. Additionally, EDC developed a new SAMHSA oil spill distress website, with resources for community members, mental health workers, and others, that features a distress helpline connected to trained staff in the Gulf Coast region. EDC will also be reaching out to Gulf Coast summer camp leaders to offer these and other resources.
