Following the Katrina hurricane, the community of New Orleans has responded by helping each other get back to normal. The community has worked together to fix the broken homes and continue engaging in their life activities. It is, however, overwhelming as there are so many issues to solve. The success of community efforts relies on the support of the government. If the government would quickly respond to enhancing safety measures in the most hit areas, then the community can successfully join in building back their economic and social lives.
In my opinion, the city has not recovered from the disaster. This is because most communities are struggling especially in areas that Katrina hit hardest. By 2009, only 2600 of the 14000 residents of the Lower Ninth ward have returned to their homes (CBS2009). This is just one of the many areas that Katrina damaged the most. Other areas include Midcity, Gentilly Bywater and Lake View. The population that is living in displaced areas is still big; therefore, the city has not recovered. The mental health issue is also proof that the city has not recovered. In 2009 alone, the city has forty suicide cases that include children and adults.
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I think that a greater focus on mental health welfare to the victims of Katrina disaster would help them recover. Doctor Juliet Sassy, who is in charge of the Emergency Medicals Services, says that most children have turned into the abuse of drugs due to mental health problems (CBS 2009). I think the victims require counselling to help them overcome post-traumatic stress disorders, depression and anxiety that were caused by the disaster. The mental health welfare should focus on helping the victims overcome the disaster for a healthy society to be established (Weems et al 2010). I believe that mentally healthy people are more productive and efficient. Mental health issues in a society only result in increased suicides, drug abuse and behavioral problems.
References
CBS News [Producer]. (2009). Katrina scars linger https://youtu.be/xyQe6Hp9yNk
Weems, C. F., Taylor, L. K., Cannon, M. F., Marino, R. C., Romano, D. M., Scott, B. G., ... & Triplett, V. (2010). Post traumatic stress, context, and the lingering effects of the Hurricane Katrina disaster among ethnic minority youth. Journal of abnormal child psychology , 38 (1), 49-56.
