Terrorism and Disasters

ISTSS and other Web sites provide useful educational materials for clinicians and individuals to use in response to terror attacks around the world.

ISTSS offers Public Education Pamphlets that provide a readily accessible introduction to important trauma-related issues. The titles below will take you to the text.

Other trauma groups offer educational material:

The UK Trauma Group Web site for links to trauma-related mental health services

UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): the treatment of PTSD in adults and children (PDF)

Statement from the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (PDF)

About Our Kids: articles and fact Sheets related to children and trauma

American Psychological Association: fostering resilience following terrorism

National Center for PTSD

Caring for Kids after Trauma and Death: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (PDF)

National Center for PTSD Brief Disaster Educational Summary (PDF)

National Center for PTSD Brief Disaster Assessment Summary (PDF)

Research indicates a link between experiencing events like this terrorist attack and later mental health problems for many -- especially those who were injured, directly witnessed the death of others, or experienced the loss of family members and friends.

Rescue workers and caretakers of the injured and bereaved also may experience significant mental distress. Because terrorist attacks are deliberate, extremely violent, and involve huge numbers of casualties, those who suffer lasting psychological effects may number in the hundreds of thousands. Even those who only watch the events unfold on TV may experience strong psychological reactions.

People’s reactions to violent events with loss of life vary greatly and there are no correct or incorrect responses. All survivors, including witnesses to the events, even those who only watched it on TV, may experience fear, disbelief, and helplessness in the initial days after the event. Over time they may experience, among other things, feelings of horror, anxiety, depression, and even numbness (lack of feelings).

People may keep reliving images of the events (i.e., have “flashbacks”), have difficulty concentrating, not feel close to loved ones, and experience physical health problems. In the current tragedy, feeling of anger, blame, and rage may be common, along with feelings of irritability or even anger and violence against loved ones. Some may try to “calm down” by using alcohol or other substances. Children, like adults, may have difficulty sleeping or nightmares, and may avoid reminders of the events. They also may act out aspects of the events in their play, or avoid school, play, or being around other people.

There are no easy answers to these manifestations of suffering, but it can make a difference when people can help themselves by spending time with supportive friends and family sharing feelings and comforting each other.

Taking care of one’s self is also advised: getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and limiting use of alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes. It may help to offer assistance to others as well. Children can be helped to understand that it is normal to be upset, to express any feelings and thoughts about the events, and to return to normal routines as soon as possible. While some people recover on their own, or with the mutual help of beloved ones, given sufficient time, not everyone does.

For this reason, some people may need professional help for posttraumatic stress reactions, depression, anger, or other trauma-related mental health problems. Research has shown that 20% or more of people exposed to traumatic events typically develop clinically significant psychological problems.

Many more will experience less severe effects. If significant distress continues for many months, becomes more, rather than less, severe over time, or interferes with one’s daily ability to function, professional help should be considered.

About Trauma and ISTSS
Fact Sheets
Specialized Trauma Resources & Organizations
Share & Discuss (A bulletin board for journalists covering the tragedy)
How Can I Offer My Help?
About ISTSS

General Information

What Is Traumatic Stress?
What Is ISTSS?
National Center for PTSD Concise information for the public on "Disaster Mental Health: Dealing with the After effects of Terrorism"
Warning Signs of Trauma Related Stress (from the American Psychological Association)
Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering From Disasters and Other Traumatic Events (from the American Psychological Association)
American Red Cross
American Counseling Association Information about coping with tragedy
American Psychiatric Association Information about coping with disasters for the public and professionals
American Psychological Association A variety of information about coping with trauma and the psychological effects of terrorism
National Association of Social Workers Information about coping with the attacks.
For information on organizations assisting with the relief effort visit http://www.helping.org

Fact Sheets

Trauma, Loss and Traumatic Grief
Children and Trauma
When a Friend or Loved One Has Been Traumatized
Mass Disasters, Trauma, and Loss
Additional Links & Resources on Traumatic Stress
Emotional Responses to Traumatic Stress (pdf file from the National Center for PTSD)
Tips to Help Adults Cope With Disaster (pdf file from the National Mental Health Association)
Coping with a Major Personal Crisis (pdf file compiled from the Australian Red Cross Society)
Why Do I Feel Like This? (from the American Red Cross)

Specialized Trauma Resources & Organizations

Children and Trauma
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Offers information on talking with children and helping them cope with trauma.
- American Academy of Pediatrics Basic guidelines for communicating with children about disasters and information for pediatricians.
- Coping with Traumatic Events: Terrorist Attacks in the United States
  Comments for Teachers and School Personnel (from Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD)
- Coping with Traumatic Events: Terrorist Attacks in the United States; Comments for Parents and Caregivers (from Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD)
- Sesame Street's "Tragic Times, Healing Words: Helping children cope"
- FEMA for kids
- Helping Children in Crisis (From the Oklahoma University Dept. of Pediatrics)
Coping with Disaster: How to Help Yourself and Others
After the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services established a disaster mental health program that provided crisis counseling and other services to persons affected by this act of terror. After the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, selected ODMHSAS publications on disaster mental health were updated and are presented here http://www.odmhsas.org/specialreports.htm.

How Can I Offer My Help?
To donate money or property

The United Way of New York and the New York Community Trust have established a fund to help the victims of the attacks and their families. The September Eleventh Fund will provide immediate support to established emergency assistance agencies. Anyone wishing to contribute may send their donations in care of United Way, 2 Park Ave, New York, New York, 10016 or call: 212-251-4035.
Donations are also being accepted on United Way of New York City's Web site: http://www.uwnyc.org.
To donate to the American Red Cross contact them at 1-800-HELP-NOW or via the web at http://www.redcross.org/
To donate to the Salvation Army contact them at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or via the web at http://www.salvationarmy.org/
Arlington, Somerset Co. Pennsylvania, California airports and other locations The local Red Cross chapters in Arlington County, Somerset County and in Boston, LA and San Francisco are mobilizing volunteers. Licensed psychologists interested in offering disaster mental health services are asked to contact their local Red Cross chapter to volunteer. You will find your local chapter in the telephone book or use the zip code-based chapter locator at http://www.redcross.org.
For more information on organizations assisting with the relief effort visit http://www.helping.org/promos/cs_wtc.adp

To donate blood

The American Red Cross is in need of blood to replenish the nation's supply. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment near where you live.

About ISTSS
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) was founded in 1985 for professionals to share information about the effects of trauma. ISTSS is dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of knowledge about policy, program and service initiatives that seek to reduce traumatic stressors and their immediate and long-term consequences. ISTSS provides a forum for the sharing of research, clinical strategies, public policy concerns and theoretical formulations on trauma in the United States and around the world. Members of ISTSS include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, counselors, researchers, administrators, advocates, journalists, clergy and others with an interest in the study and treatment of traumatic stress. ISTSS members come from a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings around the world, including public and private health facilities, private practice, universities, non-university research foundations and many others.

ISTSS Headquarters
111 Deer Lake Road, Suite 100
Deerfield, Illinois 60015 USA
Tel: (847) 480-9028
Fax: (847) 480-9282
istss@istss.org
www.istss.org