Valdosta United Way’s Mental Health Support After Hurricane Helene
When Hurricane Helene swept through Valdosta, Georgia, the community was left with severe physical and emotional scars. Michael Smith, CEO of Greater Valdosta United Way, detailed the extensive damage, noting that 933 homes suffered significant damage or were completely destroyed in Lowndes County alone. But beyond physical recovery, he emphasized, lies a pressing need to address the storm’s emotional toll. “We’ve had three hurricanes in just over a year,” Smith shared. “There’s significant storm trauma, especially for young children who worry every time it rains, fearing their homes could be destroyed again.”
United Way is dedicated to supporting the community through direct disaster relief, but now its focus is expanding to address mental health. Recognizing the emotional strain many families are experiencing, Michael’s team has taken steps to make mental health resources more accessible, particularly to children and frontline workers who are on the front lines of each recovery effort.
Mental Health First Aid
Beyond conventional recovery aid, Greater Valdosta United Way is dedicated to providing trauma-informed care and mental health support. They have conducted the Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR) suicide prevention training, throughout South Georgia in collaboration with United2Prevent, a local non-profit with a stake in suicide prevention, and Resilient Georgia, the primary funder for their mental health initiatives. This evidence-based program teaches individual community members, organizations, professional groups, and local nonprofit staff to identify and respond to signs of mental health crises. “The human service sector has faced immense stress, and now, staff are dealing with the impact of multiple storms while supporting others,” Michael explained. QPR training is helping equip these essential workers with skills to recognize trauma and provide support, addressing mental health needs at multiple levels within the community.
He emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive infrastructure for community members of all ages to address post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and related issues. Greater Valdosta United Way’s newest impact partner, Legacy Behavioral Health Services, has been actively working to add more resources to its co-responder program in the area, allowing law enforcement and mental health professionals to respond together to emergencies. Since the beginning of 2024, this program has successfully diverted 22 individuals from arrest and connected them with appropriate mental health services, reducing the burden on the criminal justice system while providing compassionate care.
Prioritizing Resilience in Long-Term Recovery
The Greater Valdosta CEO also underscored United Way’s focus on supporting those in the human services sector who are dealing with “compassion fatigue” after repeatedly responding to crises. These frontline workers often neglect their needs while caring for others, leading to burnout and physical exhaustion. To address this, United Way has initiated programs to support nonprofit staff, including setting aside designated mental health days for their team members.
“Nonprofit staff are like first responders,” said Smith. “They’re rushing out to help others even when they’re dealing with their own stress and anxiety. We want to ensure they have the mental health support they need to continue serving our community”.
As Georgia continues to rebuild, Greater Valdosta United Way's mental health initiatives remain essential to the recovery process. The organization’s proactive approach—providing education, increasing accessibility to mental health resources, and supporting community leaders and nonprofit staff—illustrates a commitment to comprehensive, community-wide healing. According to Michael, “Rebuilding isn’t just about physical recovery. ”It’s about ensuring everyone feels safe, supported, and resilient.” United Way will continue to advocate for its mental health initiatives, which include expanding 211 throughout the region and raising awareness of 988, the suicide and crisis helpline.
If you want to find out how you can support mental health initiatives in your community, connect with your local United Way.