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Didi Hirsch receives funding to support mental health of January fire survivors

Two men hold buckets of water and pour into a dirt ground.
Altadena residents pour water onto neighbors property.
(
Brian Feinzimer
/
LAist
)

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Didi Hirsch receives funding to support mental health of January fire survivors
A local mental health non-profit has received additional funding to continue work with January's fire survivors. Here's Robert Garrova.

Topline:

Local non-profit Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services recently got additional funding to the tune of about $1.5 million from a mix of private foundations, BMO Bank and other corporate partnerships that will allow them to continue supporting fire survivors for at least two more years.

The quote: Clara Bergen, a program development manager at Didi Hirsch and has been doing outreach in fire-affected communities. She said mental health support is crucial for fire survivors, especially as we approach the one-year anniversary.

“We know that trauma anniversaries are real. Our bodies respond to these trauma anniversaries,” Bergen said,

How it works: Bergen said the additional dollars will allow them to offer six free, trauma-informed therapy sessions to about 300 people over the next couple of years. You can find more information and sign up for free services on Didi Hirsch’s website.

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