The stories of grief and distress flowing from Hurricane Melissa just keep coming.

Our latest Sunday edition tells of 65-year-old Mr Hugh Barnes, of Bull Savannah, southern St Elizabeth, who died in early November. His grieving widow believes the heart attack, which resulted in her husband’s death, was caused from stress and strain directly related to the disaster.

We are told that as tidal waves and powerful winds destroyed the family-run nursing home in Black River, Mr Barnes played a heroic role in rescuing 13 elderly residents. He then took them to his house miles away in Bull Savannah.

On top of that, his widow, Mrs Melaney Walters Barnes, says that in the days prior to his death her late husband went beyond the call of duty in the hurricane recovery effort.

Such reports are everywhere, and many will only ever be known by immediate friends, neighbours, and relatives.

At the macro level, we are reminded yet again of the enormous economic and material damage. Agricultural losses are being estimated at $29.5 billion. Yet, even as we grapple with physical devastation, we dare not ignore the psychological beating from Hurricane Melissa. In fact, the physical and psycho-emotional are intrinsically linked.

We suspect that those who experienced the full impact of the monstrous Category 5 storm will never forget — barring mental impairment. And, we fear that, for many, especially the very young, the psycho-emotional wounds and scars will be far-reaching.

Hence, the pledge in November by Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon that the Government would pay for post-Melissa professional psychological and emotional support for students and teachers.

As she pointed out at the time, the full extent of the need was still to be determined. With schools set to reopen after the Christmas-new year break, that’s a matter that should be high on the agenda.

We are touched by a comment from Bishop Devon Charles Brown, who has been leading church-based relief efforts.

Said he, as published in this week’ Sunday Observer: “I have seen images on television, social media, but nothing prepared me for what I witnessed travelling to Darliston…”

Equally moving was a statement by his colleague, Evangelist Latoya Simba, who is the team lead for Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ’s Regional Evangelism Outreach Ministry.

“When we went in some of the communities we realised that, outside of just meals, persons were walking around like zombies, being psychologically challenged, being numb, just wanting hugs, just wanting somebody to listen to their story…” she said.

Such are the realities on the ground with which society will have to deal, not just immediately but for the long haul. And even as we focus on those hit hardest and most directly by the hurricane, it is important that those who are trying to help and represent victims — and even journalists striving to tell the stories — find ways to protect their own mental health.

In that respect, comments from the agriculture minister and Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South Western Floyd Green, who has no option but to be in the trenches, should be taken to heart.

Mr Green speaks of the importance of support that “can kind of hold you up so that you’re not just depending on… your own mental strength to carry you through”.

Said he: “I’ve found it’s important to have people that you can turn to and that you can say, ‘Today is a very, very difficult day’…”

Indeed, that was the gospel truth even before Melissa. It’s far more so now.