Mental health effects of the gulf oil spill.

From multiple perspectives, the current mental health concerns in the Gulf communities began significantly earl ier than the Deepwater Horizon oil spi l l , when Hurricane Katrina hit much of the area now affected by the oil blowout. The major impact of Hurricane Katrina on mental health reflected the enormity of the devastation, including destruction of the infrastructure resulting in a dramatic and tragic loss of an entire system of care: hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses, and therapists among others. During the past five years, only a partial recovery has occurred; many people have persistent mental health symptoms, and others find that old symptoms are easily reawakened.