Building on our relief and recovery efforts in the devasted Gulf Coast region, Operation USA continues to respond to unmet needs. One of the most pressing, but less obvious problems, is the rise of mental health issues created by a disaster of this magnitude. Operation USA is responding to this crisis and making it an important part of our ongoing relief effort.

Mental health consequences, such as post traumatic stress disorder and depression, run deep and linger for months, sometimes years, after a disaster, varying in intensity and duration based upon the individual. To address mental health concerns, Operation USA is supporting clinic partners who provide mental health assessments and intervention programs and supporting the hiring of licensed clinical social workers who offer mental health services and counseling to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The affected population includes not only evacuees, but also the thousands of rescue workers, emergency medical professionals and disaster recovery experts engaged in search and rescue.

To read a staff report from recent travels to the Gulf Coast, please click here.

To view a video on OpUSA's Hurricane Katrina recovery & relief efforts, please click here.