Grant Address Post-Sandy Mental Health Issues [AUDIO]

As part of their $5 million pledge to the Sandy recovery, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently donated a $735,780 grant to provide funding to cover gaps in mental health services for storm survivors.

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The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) will receive the money to fund the projects to provide behavioral health recovery services.

"About six to 12 months after a major disaster like this, is when many of the mental health problems begin to really display themselves," said John Lumpkin, Senior Vice President and Director of the Health Care Group at RWJF.

The project will focus on three initiatives: monitoring and preparing for the future, mental health first aid, and outreach to the most vulnerable.

Lumpkin says the MHANJ will train neighbors and volunteers to detect warning signs, reach out and refer these storm survivors treatment sources. Officials believe that based on past storms and natural disasters, coping with financial and personal consequences from the storm may lead to continuing cases of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.

"Mental illness after these storms are one of the silent problems that tend to get overlooked," Lumpkin explained.

He believes this is a problem that we are going to see more of over the next few months.

"As we approach the first anniversary, people are going to have an opportunity to reflect, and that's when the depression may set in."

Learn more about the two organizations by checking out the RWJF and MHANJ websites.

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