Support Mental Health with VT Strong
Flooding in Vermont this year battered homes, farms, and downtowns but did not stop there. It also created anxiety and uncertainty, which in turn impacted mental health.
That’s why the Vermont Strong fundraising campaign, via the VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation, is supporting nonprofit organizations that are helping people cope with both minor and more serious mental health challenges in the wake of the flooding.
“What we’re hearing is, ‘this has been really hard,’” said Mary Moulton, executive director of Washington County Mental Health Services in Montpelier, which has received VT Flood Fund support.
Initially people impacted by the July floods were so busy cleaning up, trying to arrange temporary housing, or reopen a business, that some pushed the stress to the side. Then it caught up with them. “We knew we’d hear more about anxiety and depression setting in later, and that’s what happened,” Moulton said.
Adding to the challenge: Each new potential weather disaster can trigger fresh anxiety, as many Vermonters discovered during the recent round of flooding that took place December 18. Although it was not as severe as the July floods, the episode left a mark.
“People were really scared,” said Moulton. “It can be a trauma-inducing, not for everybody, but certainly for some.”
Philanthropic support has helped Washington County Mental Health reach out to flood affected individuals with counseling, wellness events, and in some cases direct material aid that builds stability and wellbeing. The nonprofit agency helped a displaced Vermonter with the deposit on a new apartment, for example, which allowed the individual to once again experience the sense of security that having a home brings.
Charitable giving has allowed Washington County Mental Health to stretch dollars and respond in a way that is more flexible than government funding typically allows, Moulton said. The help means a lot to people who have faced a long road to find new housing or repair damage to homes, businesses, and farms.
It can be overwhelming,” Moulton said. Counseling and other mental health assistance gives people an opportunity to feel heard and cope with anxiety. Often the outreach begins with an empathetic query along the lines of: “What happened and how are you doing,” Moulton said.
Giving through Vermont Strong will continue to make this work possible, she added. “We cannot express enough how appreciative we are.”
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