22.3 Psychological and Societal Concerns
281
were struck, those who lived or worked in Lower Manhattan, etc.—reported higher
rates of PTSD over longer periods of time, possibly owing to on-going stresses in
their lives.
All of this suggests that the trauma from terrorist attacks and the trauma from
radiological and nuclear disasters is long-lasting, and it seems reasonable to speculate
that the trauma from a radiological or nuclear terrorist attack might be even more
traumatic for a longer period of time. This, in turn, suggests that public health agencies
and mental health professionals should consider the need to prepare to provide mental
health services to residents—primarily in the city attacked, but nationally as well—
for at least a generation following the attack. These services should include care for
PTSD and its accompanying depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and related ills
[10].
22.3.2 Societal Trauma
We know that individuals can be traumatized, causing them to act in ways that are
not typical for them. Since societies are comprised of individuals, it is reasonable to
speculate that any event that traumatizes a large number of individuals might cause
their entire society to exhibit behavior that is contrary to the society’s “normal” and
to exhibit the societal equivalent of trauma.
Consider once again the aftermath of the terrorist attacks against the United
States on September 11, 2001. Americans were individually traumatized by an attack
against their national capital and their largest and most iconic city. Individuals in New
York City and Washington DC—the cities that were attacked—were most traumatized; they could see and smell the smoke, New Yorkers could see the gap in the
Manhattan skyline, many of them had family and friends who were killed or injured.
For months—years in some cases—afterwards residents of these cities were hyperaware of their surroundings, of people who appeared to be engaged in suspicious
activities, and many were careful to maintain emergency supplies (e.g. candles, “go”
bags, food, etc.) on hand in the event of another attack.
But much of this behavior extended far beyond residents of New York City
and Washington DC. Hospitals out to several hundred kilometers from these cities
cancelled elective surgeries to be able to accommodate possible victims from the
September 11 or future attacks. The author worked at a hospital located 500 km from
New York City and knew some physicians who joined the military Reserves as a
result of the attacks, and others even further away traveled to Washington and New
York or sent food, money, and supplies to these cities to help victims and emergency
responders alike.
At the same time, Americans were nervously watching even small aircraft taking
off or landing at regional airports, they were looking out for anybody who appeared
to be Muslim or from the Middle East (and reporting such persons to the police),
they were even refusing to share a bus, train, or airplane with anybody wearing a
turban, a beard, or having a darker complexion.
281
were struck, those who lived or worked in Lower Manhattan, etc.—reported higher
rates of PTSD over longer periods of time, possibly owing to on-going stresses in
their lives.
All of this suggests that the trauma from terrorist attacks and the trauma from
radiological and nuclear disasters is long-lasting, and it seems reasonable to speculate
that the trauma from a radiological or nuclear terrorist attack might be even more
traumatic for a longer period of time. This, in turn, suggests that public health agencies
and mental health professionals should consider the need to prepare to provide mental
health services to residents—primarily in the city attacked, but nationally as well—
for at least a generation following the attack. These services should include care for
PTSD and its accompanying depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and related ills
[10].
22.3.2 Societal Trauma
We know that individuals can be traumatized, causing them to act in ways that are
not typical for them. Since societies are comprised of individuals, it is reasonable to
speculate that any event that traumatizes a large number of individuals might cause
their entire society to exhibit behavior that is contrary to the society’s “normal” and
to exhibit the societal equivalent of trauma.
Consider once again the aftermath of the terrorist attacks against the United
States on September 11, 2001. Americans were individually traumatized by an attack
against their national capital and their largest and most iconic city. Individuals in New
York City and Washington DC—the cities that were attacked—were most traumatized; they could see and smell the smoke, New Yorkers could see the gap in the
Manhattan skyline, many of them had family and friends who were killed or injured.
For months—years in some cases—afterwards residents of these cities were hyperaware of their surroundings, of people who appeared to be engaged in suspicious
activities, and many were careful to maintain emergency supplies (e.g. candles, “go”
bags, food, etc.) on hand in the event of another attack.
But much of this behavior extended far beyond residents of New York City
and Washington DC. Hospitals out to several hundred kilometers from these cities
cancelled elective surgeries to be able to accommodate possible victims from the
September 11 or future attacks. The author worked at a hospital located 500 km from
New York City and knew some physicians who joined the military Reserves as a
result of the attacks, and others even further away traveled to Washington and New
York or sent food, money, and supplies to these cities to help victims and emergency
responders alike.
At the same time, Americans were nervously watching even small aircraft taking
off or landing at regional airports, they were looking out for anybody who appeared
to be Muslim or from the Middle East (and reporting such persons to the police),
they were even refusing to share a bus, train, or airplane with anybody wearing a
turban, a beard, or having a darker complexion.