One-Third Of Kids Screened In Sandy-Hit Areas Show Signs Of Post-Traumatic Stress - Free Mental Health Services Available

One of the ads the DOH is running in bus shelters over the next two months.

One third of children and teenagers in areas affected by Superstorm Sandy that have accessed a free program offering mental health services have shown signs of post-traumatic stress and other mental health conditions, according to the Department of Health. The agency has launched a new ad campaign reminding neighbors of the free services available to kids still struggling with the effects of the storm.

Children and adolescents living in Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Rockaways can receive an evaluation and treatment at Coney Island Hospital (2601 Ocean Parkway), St. John’s Episcopal Hospital and the Staten Island Mental Health Society at no cost through the NYC Child and Adolescent Resiliency Enhancement Services (NYC CARES) program.

“Some New Yorkers in the areas hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy suffered great losses, including the loss of their homes, jobs and other significant resources,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett in a press release. “These losses can be especially devastating to children, though it’s not always easy to know if your child is having difficulty coping. If you think your child may be having symptoms of post-traumatic stress after the storm, I urge you to reach out for free services today.”(1)

According to the department, 35 percent of children screened since April 2014 – a year and a half after the storm – showed possible symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

At Coney Island Hospital, services are available free of charge to New Yorkers aged 3-21. Services including as many as a dozen sessions of evidence-based therapeutic intervention that the department said is effective in reducing symptoms associated with post-disaster mental health concerns.

If you know a child or adolescent who is feeling overwhelmed after Superstorm Sandy, call 311 to find out how to participate in NYC CARES. For more information about NYC CARES program, check out the website.

1. Stresstips.com, http://www.stresstips.com