Local mental health professionals have prepared for the
possibility of conflict. But their battles won’t be overseas. They
will be here in San Benito County.
With war commenced in Iraq, San Benito County Mental Health
Services is ready for potentially traumatic effects on area
residents, according to Director Alan Yamamoto.
He said children, friends and relatives of soldiers overseas
especially may experience psychological problems. And MHS can
provide help, or offer advice, to those in need.
Local mental health professionals have prepared for the possibility of conflict. But their battles won’t be overseas. They will be here in San Benito County.
With war commenced in Iraq, San Benito County Mental Health Services is ready for potentially traumatic effects on area residents, according to Director Alan Yamamoto.
He said children, friends and relatives of soldiers overseas especially may experience psychological problems. And MHS can provide help, or offer advice, to those in need.
“I think we’re going to take it as it comes,” he said. “It’s so unpredictable what the level of reaction may be. We want to get a little bit of a jump on being proactive.”
If residents feel an urgency for mental health services, he said, even if they’re merely wondering whether to seek help, “They are certainly welcome to come in for an assessment.”
Yamamoto particularly expressed concern for SBC’s children and the effects on them. He said he expects the television coverage to be more widespread than previous military conflicts, and parents should be weary about allowing kids to be over-exposed.
“I think just like the experience with 9/11, the (mental health advice) is pretty consistent, that we not spend inordinate amounts of time in front of the TV, that we try to carry our daily activities as normal as possible,” he said.
Different age groups, he said, contrast in their understanding of the war and, also, their levels of negative reactions. He said parents should use discretion based on the child’s maturity.
Parents should not, however, completely ignore the subject of war with kids, according to Yamamoto.
“Be honest and open, but keep it age-appropriate,” he said. “… For parents, there is some obligation to make sure that kids aren’t feeling too much anxiety over this issue.”
Children and other family members of soldiers involved in the Middle East have a relatively higher likelihood of experiencing mental health problems, he said.
Patricia Dugan of Hollister has a cousin, Sgt. Spencer Inman, who was recently deployed to the Middle East. She said a majority of her family has turned to religious faith to cope with the dangers Inman may potentially face. She commended MHS for its aptness to help people.
“Yeah, it’s a good idea,” she said of MHS and its readiness. “If I weren’t living here close to the family, it would be a lot harder.”
MHS maintains an array of literature, much of it recently distributed by the state Office of Emergency Services, about remedying problems. The articles focus on children, parents, partners, elderly, places of employment and general methods of dealing with grief. Several commentaries are also available in Spanish.
For instance, an article by the MHS staff members entitled “Helping Children Handle Disaster-Related Anxiety” lists several tips for parents, such as “be honest and open” and “encourage children to express their feelings through talking.”
Another essay published by the National Mental Health Association entitled “Helping Your Workforce Cope and Return to Work” lists several signs of emotional impact among employees. The symptoms include “working slowly,” “missing deadlines” and “irritability and anger.”
Other examples of essay’s MHS maintains include “When Daddy or Mommy is in the Military” and “Things to do if your partner is in the military.”
Other area organizations are also ready to support efforts to curtail the potential trauma of residents in San Benito County. Community Solutions offers a crisis hotline, and Griefbusters offers guidance in schools during times of crisis. Griefbusters is a non-profit organization with volunteers, ready to offer counseling, working in 80 percent of area schools, according to Program Director Ana Kapoor.
MHS offers clinical services in area schools as well, Yamamoto said. Additionally, Yamamoto plans in the near future to distribute literature to educators about appropriate treatment of distressed students.
For more information on MHS, to obtain literature or reach its Crisis Line, call 636-4020. Community Solutions can be reached at 637-SAFE.
Helping Children Handle Anxiety
The National Mental Health Association offers the following guidelines to help assuage children’s fears in time of war:
Children need comforting and frequent reassurance that they’re safe – make sure they get it.
Be honest and open about the war, but keep information age-appropriate.
Encourage children to express their feelings through talking, drawing or playing.
Try to maintain your daily routines as much as possible.
