Center for Global Education | Help for Students - Colleges and Universities Respond

United States Colleges and Universities
Help for Student Victims of Hurricanes
Mental Health Resources

1. Introduction

The effect of hurricane Katrina differs significantly depending on your situation. Some of you were displaced for a few weeks, maybe close to home in a place not too different. Others may have lost homes and relocated to a completely different place. Some may have family issues, serious financial changes, or other issues, such as not having been able to be in school this semester. Whatever your issues and challenges may be, they can impact your mental health to varying degrees.

2. Managing Stress after the Hurricanes

According to the American Psychological Association, it is common for people who have experienced traumatic situations to have very strong emotional reactions. Understanding normal responses to these abnormal events can aid you in coping effectively with your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. In their article, Managing Traumatic Stress after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, they offer helpful suggestions, some of which are listed below.

There are a number of steps you can take to help restore emotional well being and a sense of control following a natural disaster, including the following:

Give yourself time to heal. Anticipate that this will be a difficult time in your life. Allow yourself to mourn the losses you have experienced. Try to be patient with changes in your emotional state.
Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen and empathize with your situation. But keep in mind that your typical support system may be weakened if those who are close to you also have experienced or witnessed the trauma.
Communicate your experience in whatever ways feel comfortable to you - such as by talking with family or close friends, or keeping a diary.
Find out about local support groups that often are available such as for those who have suffered from natural disasters. These can be especially helpful for people with limited personal support systems.
Try to find groups led by appropriately trained and experienced professionals such as psychologists. Group discussion can help people realize that other individuals in the same circumstances often have similar reactions and emotions.
Engage in healthy behaviors to enhance your ability to cope with excessive stress. Eat well-balanced meals and get plenty of rest. If you experience ongoing difficulties with sleep, you may be able to find some relief through relaxation techniques. Avoid alcohol and drugs.
Establish or reestablish routines such as eating meals at regular times and following an exercise program. This can be especially important when the normal routines of daily life are disrupted. Even if you are in a shelter and unable to return home, establish routines that can bring comfort. Take some time off from the demands of daily life by pursuing hobbies or other enjoyable activities.
Help those you can. Helping others, even during your own time of distress, can give you a sense of control and can make you feel better about yourself.
Avoid major life decisions such as switching careers or jobs if possible because these activities tend to be highly stressful.

(Managing Stress after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, American Psychological Association help center, http://www.apahelpcenter.org)

Some people who suffer loss after a natural disaster such as a hurricane often experience what is called “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” (PTSD). Many of the symptoms of PTSD include not being able to sleep, anxiety, obsessive thinking, recurrent nightmares, depression, etc. It is important to understand that this is a normal part of the process to recovery. In some cases, PTSD may become severe and it may be necessary to seek help. If that is the case, please seek out counseling services for assistance.

Basic information on PTSD is available here.

A variety of resources exist for students on college and university campuses. Counseling centers have trained professionals who can address the needs of students. Many campus counseling centers maintain a special section of their websites to assist students displaced by Katrina. Read an article from the counseling center at Loyola New Orleans below:

(Petronis, V. Resilience following Katrina, Loyola New Orleans Counseling Center)

Have you ever wondered why one person crumbles in the face of adversity, while another person manages well, or even thrives? Have you noticed, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, how two people who face similar situations of loss may respond to those situations in completely different ways—one that is adaptive, and one that is not? What accounts for these differences in people? Why do some of us bend and others break when confronting difficult life experiences? The answers to these questions all involve one concept: resilience. Resilience is defined as the ability to cope with adversity, to adjust to change, to “bounce back” from trauma or hardships. When we are resilient, we call upon an array of beliefs, behaviors, and skills to move beyond adversity to recovery. While some people are naturally more resilient, resilience is not rare. Resilience can be learned as well as strengthened with each challenge we face. Being resilient doesn’t mean that you never become upset, sad, or angry, or that all of life’s problems go away. It doesn’t mean that you won’t be strongly affected by how Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath have changed your life. In fact, the process of becoming more resilient may involve considerable emotional distress as you confront feelings of fear, sadness, horror, and increased vulnerability. The road to resilience is a personal process that varies with each individual’s personality, life situation, and cultural background. But however you arrive at resilience, it means you can adapt to the inevitable challenges life presents with flexibility—even the challenges that seem beyond your control.

Developing resilience, for many people, involves spending time talking with others about what you are all going through. You are encouraged to connect with others.

3. Forums to connect with others

Talking with others and sharing your thoughts is one way to work through some of these issues. Forums such as myspace and craigslist can connect you with others who have been displaced. After Hurricane Katrina, craigslist set up a special Katrina Relief site with links to affected cities, donation and aid sites, and a forum for people to talk about their experiences, get assistance, and connect with others. Sample of recent posts:

I believe In miracles < intransit > 11/21 19:19:22

I am posting to testify to the fact that angels do exist. They walk among us and just when it seems that life has gotten too hard, too tough and too much someone comes along to truly perform a miracle.

You see, we had been ripped off by a car salesman in Atlanta, not only losing our much need $1400 but also losing our much needed transportation. My pain has been great having to pass that car every morning while walking my son to school in the cold. We have been literally counting pennies to catch the bus and my husband and I were taking turns going out looking for work. I was contacted by a Ms. Long from youthmatters and she told me that she wanted to help my family. We will be receiving financial help from her organization and it couldn't have come a moment too soon! I was reaching my breaking point seeing my 7 year old get soaking wet because he's trying to let me have the bigger part of the umbrella.

I must say that this board is filled with loving kind people who really care. You guys don't know me from Adam but I feel that the prayers and caring have reached me and my blessing was so great that I had to share it and send many many thanks!

I have received the clothing and toys for my babies and myself. Thank you to everyone.

Keeping up with current events also helps you to stay connected to others at home or from home. For the latest news about New Orleans and the surrounding area, visit Nola.com. Provides links to all the major papers in the area for current news. Site includes information on jobs, housing, rebuilding efforts, volunteering, and much more. You can search the community forums, read others’ stories, and add your own experiences.

4. Articles About Displaced Students and Their Issues

The American Council on Education estimates that 100,000 students were displaced by Katrina (www.acenet.edu 9/2/2005). Read some students’ stories about their experiences with relocation:

(from Iwaski, J. UW, WSU, others accepting students displaced by storm Seattlepi.com, 9/3/2005.)

Last Saturday, with Hurricane Katrina still two days from shore, Meredith Griffin evacuated her New Orleans dorm room with one pair of jeans, five shirts and flip-flops. The Loyola University senior didn't take her textbooks, figuring she would be gone just a few days -- "a little vacation" at her Aunt Beverly's home in Houston.

Katrina had other ideas. With the Loyola campus shut down, Griffin made arrangements Friday to enroll at Seattle University. She is one of 41 students from New Orleans universities who are in the process of being admitted at Seattle University, part of an unusual arrangement involving hundreds of higher education institutions across the

"I wanted to be with family again," Griffin, 21, said by phone from Texas. "It's such a traumatic experience for so many students. We all just want to go home."

It has been a traumatic experience for many students, but at this time it is important to think of the positive aspects of your time elsewhere along with what has been difficult about it. Read a recent article about one student who is doing just that:

(from Teicher, S. College Life after Katrina Christian Science Monitor online edition, 10/20/2005.)

My mom told me, 'Think of it like study abroad.' “For all Whitney Wallace knew of New Hampshire, it might as well have been a foreign country. But when she got word that she could attend college at Franklin Pierce College here for free this semester after evacuating from Dillard University in New Orleans, she didn't worry about the details.

The Dillard students, even those who didn't know each other before, have bonded here at Franklin Pierce, and they say it's been essential to their recovery. "Without having somebody here, this is too far," Russell says. "I'd be crying all day."

Another support network: a women's group on campus called Sistuhs. Its members are from various racial backgrounds, but many are women of color, including the group's ebullient president, Kutendereza Olatungi-Babumba, known around campus as "Tuki." She says she's enjoyed learning about the Dillard students' life down south. "They're used to Southern pleasantries.... One girl said, 'I'm not used to holding my books' - because guys would always offer to carry them!" As for being in a place where they're in the minority instead of the majority, she says they're adjusting well. "It's good to experience a change. You can keep it with you the rest of your life," she says.

It isn’t always possible to keep a completely positive attitude after having been through a significant trauma. You may need some assistance working through some of your feelings.