NCJ Number
195880
Journal
SAMHSA News Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2002 Pages: 6-9
Date Published
2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Addressing the partnership between the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Mental Health Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, this article discusses the ways that communities are healing since the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Abstract
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have formed a partnership to award grants funding for public education and crisis counseling efforts in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Arguing that survivors, rescue workers, and others affected by disasters, such as the terrorist attacks, may need help in understanding and processing their distress, CMHS and FEMA have designed a program that avoids the stigmas often associated with mental health services. Discussing how the FEMA/CMHS grants were used in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, this article discusses that neighbors checking in on neighbors is key to helping mental health professionals fan out their services throughout various communities.