“Moments of Calmness.” In Puerto Rico, Building the Emotional Skills to Cope with Disaster
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By Ana Umpierre
April 15, 2021 5:10 am
Even before Hurricanes Irma and María slammed into Puerto Rico, mental health was a widespread issue on the island.
“You don’t need a natural disaster to feel stressed,” said Nancy Ruiz, one of the facilitators of Puerto Rico’s Center for Mind-Body Medicine. “Everyday problems accumulate as we carry on, and our bodies, like a glass full of water, continue to tolerate it until one day it overflows.”
Those existing concerns, combined with two destructive hurricanes, put a significant strain on Puerto Ricans’ mental health.