Superstorm Sandy helpers suffer ‘compassion fatigue’
Workshop teaches recovery workers how to cope
Now it’s the helpers who need help.
Sixteen months after Superstorm Sandy hit New York, victims are still struggling to rebuild their shattered lives and the many of the people assisting them are suffering from a condition known as “compassion fatigue,” according to a trauma specialist.
Dr. Paula Madrid, special consultant to the Children’s Health Fund, led a workshop sponsored by the fund in Gerritsen Beach on Feb. 6 for healthcare workers,social service employees, community volunteer organizations and members of the clergy who have been helping the neighborhood rebuild and who might need some assistance themselves these days.