According to a 2016 epidemiological study by the Puerto Rico Administration of Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services, approximately 7.3% of Puerto Rico’s population has a serious mental illness (SMI) compared with only 4% of mainland Americans. For those with SMIs and other psychiatric disorders, a growing body of research demonstrates that natural disasters exacerbate mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. But according to Ignacio Vila, a community mental health and substance abuse counselor who has worked in Puerto Rico for 30 years, “Everyone is at risk. Natural disasters can take a significant toll on one’s mental and emotional well-being, especially when basic needs are not met for an extended period of time, as is the case in Puerto Rico. “The road to physical, mental, and emotional recovery will be a long one,” says Vila.

Source: Huffington Post September 30, 2017 22:01 UTC