Red Cross Mental Health Volunteers to Hold Special 'Coping' Session for General Public
News Release: September 12, 2001
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross is preparing a mental health counseling response to help local residents cope with stresses caused by the tragedies in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Cumberland County, Pa.
John Hughes, executive director of the local Red Cross chapter, said that, in addition to the needs of victims, their families and rescue personnel at the disaster sites, Lehigh Valley residents are also struggling to cope with psychological stresses caused by fear, grief, anger and anxiety over the terrorist attacks.
In response, trained Red Cross mental health professionals will be available at the Red Cross on Thursday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. and on Friday, Sept. 14 at 12:30 p.m. to meet with anyone to discuss the recent tragedies. Meetings will be held in the first floor conference room at the Red Cross building located at 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem. Media coverage of counseling sessions will not be permitted.
Attendees will have an opportunity to share personal thoughts and feelings about the recent tragedies and learn about natural responses and coping mechanisms.
Dick Williams, volunteer coordinator for Disaster Mental Health Services for the local Red Cross, along with other area Red Cross mental health counselors, will facilitate the meetings. Williams teaches social work at Marywood University Graduate School in the Lehigh Valley. He has been a Red Cross volunteer for 10 years, providing mental health counseling at numerous local, state and national disasters.
Mental health professionals will be available at the Red Cross as the need for mental health counseling is likely to increase over the coming weeks. Other mental health professionals from the community also will be available. As local residents see loved ones become involved in military reserve activations and changes in the duty status of active duty military personnel, additional needs are likely to arise, Hughes said.
The two top priorities of the local Red Cross currently are providing assistance to Miller Memorial Blood Center to recruit donors and to provide mental health counseling locally and at the disaster sites.
The Lehigh Valley Chapter Red Cross serves more than 620,000 residents in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 15,500 Lehigh Valley residents.
For more information about the Lehigh Valley Chapter Red Cross, visit www.redcrosslv.org.
