A place to go, for Haiti

Luckily, there's CNN, and some semblance of decency in news coverage. Luckily, there was a place to go to get the latest updates on Haiti. Luckily, there wasn't a network offering the same tired pseudo-political analysis from failed politicians who make a cheap and easy living by trashing political opponents.

Luckily, there was a place to see the devastation, the crumbling buildings that collapsed as a ground shook with the same ferociousness of that a nuclear attack.

Luckily, we could find the television coverage that didn't feature a governor who quit before her term was up, or a televangelist trying to tell us that Haiti was the president's fault and, therefore, our fault.

On CNN, we learned that 300 million are in need of medical assistance, and the Red Cross has run out of supplies. We learned that people are dying, and we learned how to help the survivors rather than a listening to yet another plug for a failed politician's book filled with vindictiveness and falsehoods.

It's not just CNN, either. I now write this as I watch David Letterman, who gave an address for people who want to help: http://www.wfp.org/lateshow.

I also scanned through a series of Facebook postings that could prove infinitely more useful than another assault on health care legislation on a network whose name sounds like a fury animal that cruises chicken houses, looking for dinner. They include:

- RedCross needs Kreyol speaking volunteers for PHONE BANK Contact Br. Wilford @ 305-776-6900 (from k. fieffe)

- Give as generously as you can to Doctors Without Borders #Haiti #Earthquake Response and help save lives. http://bit.ly/8B0kbu

- American Airlines is FLYING DOCTORS and NURSES to Haiti FOR FREE, 212 697 9767 212 697 9767 UPS is SHIPPING to Haiti FOR **25% OFF** TOMORROW, under 50 lbs. ALSO, RED CROSS is looking for volunteers who speak CREOLE and ENGLISH to answer phones & be a TRANSLATOR. Contact ur local Red Cross. PLZ PASS THIS INFO ALONG

- HAITI: Just texted "haiti" to 90999 (auto $10 donation to Red Cross; they've crossed $1 million already) and "yele" to 501501 ($5 auto donation); Mashable's ways to help now: http://bit.ly/4XID2c *** LET'S ALL DO THIS!

- Looking for any family members of NJ church group members who are now in Haiti. Please call Beth at the Associated Press at 609-802-3002.

- We are working on a fact page: http://www.thehaiticompanion.com/Home.html

- Donate to the Red Cross Int'l relief fund to get aid to Haiti, takes less time than buying coffee. https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?4306.donation=form1&idb=991405240&df_id=4306

Then there are the organizations I deal with, the mental health organizations that are always way in front on these issues. They're the real newsmakers because they're qualified at what they do, and they don't pretend otherwise.

They know that overcoming the mental battle is just as hard, or even harder than the physical. This is what happens in devastation; this is what's news.

Recognizing the immense psychological aid and support that will be needed in the coming days, weeks, and months ahead to help family members cope, the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHA) and the New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc. (NJMHI) offered to coordinate assistance to family members affected by this tragedy.

“I have watched, along with the rest of the world, with great sadness and sympathy as the people affected by this earthquake struggle to simply survive,” said Debra L. Wentz, who is Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, Inc. “Because of our experience in assisting with the deadly tsunami in late 2004, including my own firsthand experience being on-site in Sri Lanka while the tsunami occurred, NJAMHA and NJMHI are well prepared to assist with a natural disaster of this magnitude.”

Wentz added that the most serious mental health problems still lie ahead for victims, their families and relief workers. While it is normal in the days following a natural disaster to feel a range of emotions: irritability, night terrors, depression, hopelessness and anxiety, the challenge is to keep these feelings from taking root.

“It is perfectly natural to feel anxious or depressed at this time, but it is important for individuals to be aware of the symptoms that could indicate a more serious problem,” said Henry Acosta, deputy director of NJMHI. “It is important to understand that stressful times may exacerbate underlying mental health problems.”

Individuals who are having trouble coping with this traumatic experience should call a mental health professional in their community. It is important to realize that it will take time to heal. Trauma specialists also stress the importance of victims communicating their experience in whatever ways feel comfortable – such as by talking with family or friends, or by keeping a diary.

Wentz, who is fluent in French, and Acosta, who is fluent in Spanish, are available to coordinate assistance in English, French, some Haitian dialects, and Spanish for family members who may need mental health services, as well as to speak with members of the news media who may have questions about how to cope with this disaster. NJAMHA has compiled a set of fact sheets for coping with trauma.

To contact them, call (609) 838-5488 or email dwentz@njamha.org.