BP Oil Spill Trauma May Lead to Mental Health Issues

GRAND ISLE, La., June 21, 2010— -- On the streets of Grand Isle, La., Maryal Mewherter hands out hope.

Mewherter, who works with the Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, has been giving out $100 food vouchers for use at the local Sureway grocery store. The vouchers are from BP; they are for struggling families whose income was shut off or stunted by the oil spill, which began nearly two months ago with the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling platform.

Weeks ago, Mewherter said, the residents coming to her for help made up a slow trickle. Now, every day brings a steady stream of people.

"From what we heard, they were hoping that this would come and go in a week or two and things were going to go back to normal," she said. "But things didn't go back to normal yet. ... From what I can see I think people are still in denial about what's really happening or they really don't know."

As the reality of the spill sinks in, however, Mewherter fears that it may be difficult for many residents to adjust to the turmoil that the disaster has brought to the region, including loss of jobs and livelihood, a concern shared by psychologists who cite the possible mental health repercussions.

"This is where they grew up, this is where they lived all these years, this is their way of life," she said. "And they're not wanting to give that up."

Grand Isle BP spokesman Curtis Thomas said, "They are angry, they are mad."

His company, he said, has been a lightning rod for people's anger and frustration, as it now finds itself imposing beach and fishing restrictions and bringing in waves of outsiders for relief and other efforts.

Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle said the local government is doing what it can to boost morale. "We take it one day at a time and tell people to stay strong," he said.

Still, he said, it is a challenge. Camardelle said he is trying to create summer jobs for teens to earn a bit of spending money and give them something to do, now that the accident has disrupted their lives. But as the oil continues to spill, opportunities, it seems, have dried up.

"There's really nothing to do" on the island, he said. "It puts a burden on the families."