KATRINA: A TIPPING POINT
Reaching People Where They Work and Live
“When the Jackson County Community Services Coalition approached the Foundation with a proposal to provide mental health services to all 275 city employees in Pascagoula, Mississippi, we were eager to help,” said Foundation for the Mid South program officer Necole S. Irvin. “We were looking for deep-impact opportunities, and this was an innovative and effective way to provide service to a large number of people carrying enormous stress and anxiety about rebuilding their community.”
The City Manager of Pascagoula, Kay Kell, recognized the growing post-Katrina mental health needs of the city’s employees—particularly in the fire and police departments—and asked for help.
After partnering with the Foundation, the Coalition provided group interactive sessions over a 12-month period to all city employees and one-to-one sessions as needed. These Emotional Wellness Trainings (also referred to as “psychological first aid briefings”) provided individual and group sessions to address the trauma of the disaster and the stress from recovery.
As a result, the City of Pascagoula started including the training as a part of its employee benefits package, making mental health a significant new addition to the overall health strategy for the City of Pascagoula. The tremendous success and demand for the project has garnered attention from other municipalities, like nearby Ocean Springs, interested in similar services for their employees.
To date, over 750 Gulf Coast residents have received Emotional Wellness Training. This is helping people to rebuild their lives after Katrina and become better emotionally equipped to deal with the stressors of the 21st century pace of life.
James Yancey, Jr.
Executive Director, JCCSC
