It's been more than three months since Hurricane Katrina ravaged parts of the Southeast coast, but she's still taking a toll on the people she affected the most.

Many who lost everything because of Katrina - homes, jobs, health, family members and money - are grappling with lots of stress. More than 1,300 citizens died during the storm, and thousands remain homeless and jobless in the area.

Katrina and holiday stress

Mental health experts say that such mourning and hardship, combined with the usual stresses related to the holidays, may develop into depression for scores of residents.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that about a half-million people - both survivors and the emergency workers who went to their aid - may be in need of mental health services. In contrast, a recent Louisiana State University study found that only about 7 percent of Louisiana's residents have sought psychological counseling after the storms.

Before Katrina hit, the National Suicide Prevention hotline got an average of 3,000 calls a month. Since the storm, monthly calls have doubled - with most of the new calls coming from the Southeast. The Washington Post reports that the number of suicides in some New Orleans parishes has also doubled in recent months.

And it's not just adults who are feeling the pain - college students and young children are also suffering.

Katrina's impact on kids

Young children who have experienced stress, or had their routines disrupted, need as much normality during the holidays as possible, Psychiatrist Russ Ricci, a member of myDNA's Medical Advisory Board, says.

"The loss of structure that schools provide is a real trauma. Teachers and friends are gone, and the transition to a new school, often in a new town or state, is difficult," he says.

"Not knowing whether the change is temporary or permanent causes even more anxiety."

Children who experienced the storm firsthand should be encouraged to express their feelings about it. Sometimes their legitimate expressions of anger can be mistaken for misbehavior.

Ricci recommends that adults help children put their feelings into words with conversation-starting statements like, "You are really mad that your school and friends are gone, aren't you?" This could be a useful means to get children to open up and initiate a dialogue.

Katrina's impact on college students

In addition to being affected by Katrina, college students from the Gulf Coast area are also experiencing an added stress at the moment: final exams.

Jacqueline Wiebe, the director of the Counseling Center at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, says many students are still working through their pain and confusion.

"We usually see psychological disorders begin to manifest themselves among this age group," Wiebe says. "Many of these students just left home for the first time, and their coping skills aren't fully developed."

She says the added pressure of finals isn't helping.

"On top of everything else, students are having to catch up on work during exam time while being worried about their families."

Ricci adds that some young adults are not sure whether they will ever return home.

"And, these students don't know when they can - or if they will ever be able to - return to New Orleans to complete their education."

Organizations reach out

Many charities, churches and other groups are doing whatever they can to make the post-Katrina holiday season as normal as possible for victims and families.

From what these organizations have seen, the biggest obstacle to aiding hurricane victims is overcoming denial and self-pride and not being hesitant or embarrassed to ask for help.

Related News:
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Why the post-Katrina social disorder?
Euthanasia? Officials question Katrina deaths
Psychological effects of viewing Katrina on TV
Help coming for kids displaced by Katrina
Reopening hospitals for Katrina survivors

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