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The mental health effects of surviving a near-Category 5 hurricane can have a significant impact on individuals and the community as a whole.
While in downtown Fort Myers after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida, WGCU reporter/producer Tara Calligan caught up with Reese VanCamp, director of Advanced Providers at Elite DNA Behavioral Health in Fort Myers.
VanCamp took time to clean up the debris left by Hurricane Ian to discuss the importance of addressing mental health in times of disaster.
Transcript:
Callaghan: Going through such a storm takes a heavy toll on mental health. What advice would you give to people in this situation right now?
VanCamp: I think a good point is to evaluate what’s around you. I think the best thing you can do with anxiety is to first know your surroundings to make a plan together.
So, taking each thing one at a time, making plans with family or friends and moving forward, you know, rather than looking at this whole wonderful picture piece by piece.
Callaghan: For anyone experiencing this for the first time, any kind of disaster, this is one of the worst hurricanes Southwest Florida has ever experienced. If you’re really in that awkward situation, what’s the way to get started?
VanCamp: Talk to each other, talk to people in your neighborhood or apartment building, talk to friends There is a suicide hotline. If it scares you too much, you can always get it. 988 And talk to someone. There are many toll-free mental health hotlines.
Oh, you know, local colleges, if you’re on campus, they all have centers to go to and someone to talk to. Therefore, the month has a lot of details.
There are many opportunities to talk to someone, and I think that is the most important thing.
Callaghan: What about maybe in terms of giving, you know, giving yourself a break, giving yourself space to feel that?
VanCamp: I think that’s very important, because, you know, we’re going to go into that, if we want to just do things in that mode. But of course, if you take a little time and get it done, you’ll do it more efficiently.
So, you know it’s okay to take the time unless you feel it, and then everyone around you might be feeling the same, you’re giving them space to express those same feelings.
Callaghan: Is it different from the kind of anxiety that someone has felt before and how you might feel in this kind of situation?
VanCamp: Anxiety often comes from being in a situation you don’t want to be in. Panic is usually because your body is trying to get you out of this situation. It is very, very common for people to be in a state of panic or their body is feeling overly angry right now.
Your body is trying to protect it, so taking that, accepting those feelings and just letting them go is the best situation.
Callaghan: For the listeners, is there anything else that you feel would be helpful for people out there who are really struggling at this time?
VanCamp: Again, talking with family and friends, I think it’s good. That’s part of the reason we have friends and family, so we can have communication to help us when we need it.
So, don’t be afraid to reach out, because that’s why we’re here. I’ve been around our neighborhood and I know that everyone helps each other. You just have to accept it.
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