Lee Health: Supportive tips and resources for hurricane anxieties
At the start of the hurricane season, I reminded you through this column to ensure your health and medical needs are on your emergency checklist, which is very important. As I have been talking to people throughout Lee Health and our community, I recognize the stress and anxiety so many people are experiencing at the thought of facing another hurricane season. It is understandable and normal to feel that way, especially as many in our community are still recovering from Hurricane Ian’s impact and devastation.
Our Lee Health Behavioral Health team compiled this list of effective coping skills related to natural disasters that I thought would be helpful to share here, too:
Seek out family and community support systems
Establish and stick to a realistic daily routine
Focus on maintaining self-care
Make sure you are consistently getting enough sleep
Try to reduce the overall stressors in your life
Limit the amount of news you watch, read and listen to
Find ways to give back to help others and empower them
Decrease or avoid substance use
Seek out individual professional support, crisis counselors or group therapy opportunities
In addition to support available locally, the Lee Health Behavioral Health team says there are national hotlines focused on disaster distress, including:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline: You can call or text 800-985-5990 24/7/365 for crisis counseling and support for anyone experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. You can also find more information at www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Disaster Survivors: Visit https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/disaster-survivors/ for more information.
American Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recover Services: Visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services.html.
Helping children cope with disaster: Learn more at www.ready.gov/coping-disaster and https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/disasters.
The bottom line is that however you are feeling, you are not alone! Our community experienced a traumatic, catastrophic event. Mental health issues following an event like a hurricane can affect people for years. Heed the advice of our Behavioral Health team, seek the support of others and take advantage of the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday to stock up on essentials so you feel more prepared. Visit https://floridarevenue.com/DisasterPrep/Pages/default.aspx for the dates of the next tax holiday and the list of qualifying items.
For more information about Lee Health Behavioral Health, please visit https://www.LeeHealth.org/locations/find-a-location/behavioral-health-center.
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Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA is the president & CEO of Lee Health, Southwest Florida’s major destination for health care offering acute care, emergency care, rehabilitation and diagnostic services, health and wellness education, and community outreach and advocacy programs. Visit www.LeeHealth.org to learn more.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee Health: Supportive tips and resources for hurricane anxieties
