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Friday, July 2, 2010

Louisiana Asks BP For $10 Million In Mental Health Funding .. First Request DENIED

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is again requesting $10 million from BP to fund ongoing mental health services in communities affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, after a request made on May 28 failed to spur any action.

In a second letter to Doug Suttles, BP America's chief operating officer, Louisiana DHH Secretary Alan Levine asked the company Monday to set aside $10 million to support outreach efforts by the department's Louisiana Spirit teams and pay for "a needed spectrum of therapeutic and psychiatric services" offered through local districts and community organizations.

Just more evidence that BP is all talk and little action.

Levine's letter explained his concerns over an "emerging behavioral health crisis" -- Louisiana Spirit counselors embedded in the impacted communities have already begun to report increased anxiety, depression, and alcohol consumption in their patients, an observation that community-based organizations have corroborated.

It is time to be proactive and stop another crisis!!  "We don't have the luxury of time. We've got to provide services and support now," Levine said.

1 comment:

  1. You hear about how much BP has "spent" on cleanup and then hear most of it is to pay for all those people "cleaning" beaches. It is all about what you see, not what really needs to be done. Just like you said, it is the packaging.

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