After Fires Recovery - Wildfire Mental Health Collaborative (WMHC)
Mental health recovery and resiliency are more important than ever for survivors of the 2017 wildfires. Triggers for those impacted have become more visible: reconstruction challenges, the Camp Fires in Butte County, or just a windy night are a few examples.
Our community is really starting to see the long-term effects of wildfire trauma and PTSD on the mental health of our employees, neighbors and customers. Prolonged stress takes its toll on physical and emotional well-being. Some residents sought immediate help after the fires from stress, anxiety or depression with mental health professionals. Other residents are just now realizing that stress, anxiety or depression are setting in and that they might need help.
The Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County, through the Wildfire Mental Health Collaborative, offers free help for those recovering from the devastating fires of 2017. The Collaborative’s goal is to ensure that Sonoma County residents learn to recognize the signs of mental health distress and have access to resources and services for personal recovery, as well as long-term healing and resiliency skill-building. Working with mental health experts from local and national associations, as well as a network of clinics and nonprofits, the Collaborative has put together a county-wide approach to healing that includes evidence-based methods.
Tammy Sakanashi, a resident who has taken advantage of the services provided by the Collaborative said, “When we lost our house in Kenwood, we really needed some emotional calming, since losing our house caused such turmoil. I don’t think I would feel as grounded as I do now if it weren’t for the free yoga classes.” Tammy said. https://healthcarefoundation.net/2018/08/03/trauma-informed-yoga-for-wildfire-survivors-and-schedule/
The Collaborative provides a number of different services that are offered for free during day, evening and weekend hours around the county.
• Individual and group counseling
• Trauma-informed yoga/meditation
• The free mobile app Sonoma Rises on iOS and Android
• The bilingual website www.mysonomastrong.com
• Outreach mental health speaker at your place of work, worship or neighborhood group
• Training for mental health professionals in Skills for Psychological Recovery
Please be sure to share this information with those in need of support. As we reach the second anniversary of the fires, and insurance-funded support ends for many residents, the free mental health support services are brought to you by the Wildfire Mental Health Collaborative, an initiative of the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County. Thanks to the generosity of donors such as theTipping Point Community Foundation, Sonoma County‘s Resilience Fund, Redwood Credit Union Community Fund, Constellation Brands, The Dreaming Tree Wines, Medtronic, The American Red Cross, The Kindling Foundation and others, these services are provided for free.
About the Healthcare Foundation: The Healthcare Foundation is a trusted funder and the leading Northern Sonoma County proponent for building a healthier community. The Healthcare Foundation leads, convenes and communicates with other funders, donors, grantees and other partners to identify and analyze health issues in our community.
Through collaboration, the Healthcare Foundation builds solutions to health issues. A flexible resource to carry out donors’ visions, the Healthcare Foundation takes a strategic lens in investing in areas of health access, mental health and early childhood development.
Please call (707) 473-0583 or email Brenda Baseda atbbeseda@healthcarefoundation.net or visit www.healthcarefoundation.net if you can donate to support our neighbors in need!
