Mental Health Services Made Available For Plane Crash Witnesses
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Mental health support and counseling is available through various Bay Area organizations for those dealing with the aftermath of the deadly Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash on Saturday.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health is offering mental health counseling services to anyone who witnessed or was affected by the incident.
Department officials are concerned about people who saw the crash, such as fellow travelers, workers, airport staff and first responders.
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Those affected by the crash may be have trouble sleeping, feel anxious, angry or irritable, and have intrusive thoughts.
Health professionals said these symptoms are likely to appear shortly after experiencing or witnessing the incident.
Anyone who needs to talk to a counselor can call 311 and ask for mental health counseling.
Seventeen SFDPH mental health workers were dispatched to San Francisco International Airport on Saturday to help victims and others deal with the aftermath of the trauma.
The American Red Cross has about 100 volunteers trained in crisis counseling working with passengers, crews and victims' families, Red Cross spokeswoman Pooja Trivedi said.
A center has been established at an unspecified location within San Francisco where survivors can get counseling and other resources, Trivedi said.
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