Special Projects Fund

Project Title

SIMHS Sandy Help

Grant Amount

$37,500

Priority Area

Special Projects Fund

Date Awarded

November 27, 2013

Region

NYC

Status

Closed

Website

https://simhs.org/

SEE GRANT OUTCOMES

On the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction, many Staten Island residents still faced physical displacement and psychological distress.

When the storm came ashore on Staten Island in 2012, it caused catastrophic damage and 23 fatalities—more than any other borough. It was expected that the 2013 anniversary of the event would trigger strong emotional responses in many individuals. NYHealth awarded Staten Island Mental Health Society (SIMHS) a grant to address the psychological needs of Staten Island residents by providing access to free mental health crisis counseling and treatment services.

Under this grant, SIMHS provided mental health crisis counseling and treatment services to Staten Island residents who were directly impacted by Hurricane Sandy. SIMHS accommodated walk-in residents who were seeking nurturing and qualified support. Residents were able to take advantage of up to three no-cost counseling sessions from October 1 – December 31, 2013. Licensed by New York State to provide mental health and substance use treatment services, SIMHS clinics are located throughout Staten Island, including some of the most devastated areas affected by the storm. Services were promoted throughout the community by SIMHS to ensure it was available to all residents.