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We knew while it was happening mental health problems would be severe. We pretended to care about that, and prepare for it. Now research shows victims of Katrina are not one bit better, mentally, than they were a year ago, and many are worse. That is a huge failure.
Liz Spikol is senior contributing editor of Philadelphia Weekly. She writes the award-winning column The Trouble With Spikol, which began as a chronicle of her struggle with mental illness, and has since expanded into humorous musings on everything from graphic novels to how to use a mop. She also writes the paper's book review column, Lit Gloss. This blog -- named one of the Top 10 Bipolar Blogs of 2007 by PsychCentral -- is about mental illness policy, news, personal journeys and more.
Comments
I would have to agree. I live near Ocean Springs, MS, about 2 miles from the beach. We were inundated with 5 feet of water. It took me about six months to rebuild and we were very VERY fortunate to get the help we did through grants and a paltry $10,000 from our insurance company (damage: $100,000) and an SBA loan. So many people can't get those things because they rented so they won't qualify for help from SBA or MDA.
Every week I watch another building go up where there used to be a farm or a house. Or I see favorite stretches of woods disappear overnight and replaced with signs that tout the latest condo (minimum price $100,000). We fight daily to make our insurance payments, grocery bills, utility bills.
Our people are dying of broken hearts and no one gives a damn.
I suppose it would be easy to do what everyone in the country is saying we should do......pack up and leave. Then I guess the food and goods coming off the barges and their gas coming out of the Gulf and their shrimp and their good Cajun food can either come from elsewhere or they can come down and get it. Enjoy those vacations to the empty casinos too. Just don't expect to leave here real soon. We can't.
Posted by: Nita | November 2, 2007 06:35 PM