The BP oil spill is taking a heavy psychological toll on the people who depend on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico to make a living, according to this article in the Washington Post.

The article quotes National Association of Social Workers member Michele Many, MSW, LCSW, who works at Louisiana State University.

“The oil spill is like a cancer or tumor,” she said. “It is creeping and unpredictable from whether people will have livelihoods or health issues later from helping clean it up. You just don’t know whether it is benign or malignant.”

Social workers help people recover from disasters. To learn more click here to read a tip sheet by John D. Weaver, LCSW, BCD, ACSW, CBHE, that is posted on NASW’s “Help Starts Here” Web site.