Introduction
September 11, 2001, represents a watershed moment in history relating to the terrorist attacks that took place on that day in modern times. The events that happened that day led to profound impacts on public health and other various areas, which have continued to be long-lasting. The terrorist attack, unprecedented in its way, caused a large-scale crash, leading to the immense presence of community-based trauma (DeLisi, 2004). The mass impact affected areas that included medical health, mental health, public health, and, to some extent, the financial posterity of various dimensions of people and the government. The essay analyzes community-based trauma and examines some of its responses with evidence-based suggestions for improving it.
Community-Based Trauma Summary
Many communities experienced mass effects with devastation after the events that occurred following the 9/11 attacks. The terrorist siege left an indelible mark on the lives of many individuals, both those who were affected and those who were indirectly affected. Concerning statistics on the effects on public health, almost 3000 people died that day, with another group of approximately 6000 people sustaining injuries from the attack (DeLisi, 2004). The Twin Towers’ collapse led to more than just near damage to the close ones; the debris and dust also affected others that were exposed. There were numerous cases reported concerning respiratory problems with cancers and the emergence of mental health disorders that emerged over time, compromising the medical health of the people.
Over 410,000 people were exposed to the toxic dust that exacerbated respiratory problems (Clements & Casani, 2016). According to Clemence and Casani(2016), the mental health impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks was substantial, affecting a wide range of individuals, from survivors and first responders to witnesses and those indirectly exposed to the traumatic events. The presence of the terrorist attacks led to an increased number of post-traumatic stress disorders among people. There were alarming rates of anxiety, depression, and increased cases of substance abuse that happened to have been recorded after the incident. For instance, according to Clements and Casani (2016), the percentage of people in Manhattan who suffer from severe depressive illness rose from 4.1% before 9/11 to 20.7% after the attacks
In addition, research that was carried out by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene indicated that the frequency of probable anxiety disorders among inhabitants of New York City who lived below Canal Street rose from 5.7% before 9/11 to 15.8% after the terrorist attacks of that day (Clements & Casani, 2016). Finally, the economic scale also had the most profound impact, with a loss that exceeded more than $10 billion (Rose & Blomberg, 2010). This financial toll devastated the margins, destabilizing most operations and halting several state functions.
Analysis of the Response
Providing Access to Basic Needs
Various interventions relate to the response that can be given in the event of a community-based trauma. The terrorist attack led to the emergence of various forms of response that ought to take place and help the community. One related to providing basic needs to the people affected, ranging from shelter to medical care and food. Emergency services were also needed to mitigate the immediate health crisis and risks encountered (Watson & Hamblen, 2017). However, some flaws came out during this process, as it was noted that the vast scale of damage could not be adequately sustained due to several gaps. Equitable resource allocation with efforts on coordination proved futile, which meant that it would only be possible to meet some of the basic needs requirements for the affected people.
Individual Mental Health Needs Assessment
Various screening tests and triaging of patients took place following the attack to identify casualties that were at higher risk levels. The approach taken during the triaging process related most to the allowance of targeted interventions (Watson & Hamblen, 2017). However, there were many challenges relating to the unprecedented scale of the affected people. The country experienced wide-scale trauma, which meant that aspects such as triaging and mental health assessment of each individual that was affected became somewhat tricky.
The volume of the casualties and those affected overwhelmed the existing number of caregivers and mental health services that were available. Several cases attended the triage and mental health check-ups led to many delays in the identification of the various psychological needs of those affected (Clements & Casani, 2016). The needs failed to be addressed on time, leading to escalating cases of mental health problems.
Psychological First Aid and Resilience Support
The terrorist attack left several casualties with mental health trauma, which meant that much intervention was needed in this field. Psychological first-aid became a critical approach to help people cope with the traumatizing events that transpired. Some interventions that became part of the response include the resilience-focused mode and forming community support groups. The engagements from these groups with a resilience approach enabled the victims to share their experiences with other people, thus helping them manage their trauma (Watson & Hamblen, 2017). Additionally, there were the present counseling services offered that allowed for dealing with the individuals’ traumatic problems and helping them face the psychological impact of the terrorist attack with courage.
Creation of Outreach and Educational Programs
The outreach program was created to disseminate information concerning the availability of support services during crises. Other forms of help that became available due to the educational program included ways in which the victims would cope with their situation and the effects of trauma, especially the long-term ones (Watson & Hamblen, 2017). The programs empowered many individuals to regain hope and strength during the tough times they had just faced. The communities also received unique support to help them go through the trying time as one and help each other mentally and socially.
Provision of Consultation Training and Local Providers
Many forms of assistance were required after the attack due to the vast scale of damage caused. In this case, training had to be done on those who had not been affected so that they could help out and secure as many victims as possible during this duration. There was training for local providers and others who would perform consultations and help people handle the situation mentally (Watson & Hamblen, 2017). The targeted group included community leaders with the required training to assist needy people. The consultation training meant that services would be available to ensure coordinated effort and response. Thus, a standardized, evidence-based curriculum would be created with consultations to enhance service delivery.
Utilization of Evidence-Based Treatments
The terror attack brought about the use of various forms of treatment, which included Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that mainly focused on the effects of trauma. This type of treatment became crucial for addressing the impacts of the attack and was also tailored to meet the specific needs of those who experienced hard times. Implementation of this form of treatment, however, faced some challenges that included limited access to some of the mental health services offered. There were also cases of stigma associated with those individuals who sought help(DeLisi, 2004). In this manner, there is a need for having primary care settings incorporated with mental health services that address issues like stigma.
Evidence-Based Suggestions for Improvement
Regarding the efforts made during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, various forms of improvement could have helped manage the situation a lot better. The first one includes strengthening interagency coordination, which is crucial to having a quicker and better response with many resources present. There would be clear lines of communication, and the victims would have an easier time accessing help and treatment services.
The response protocol’s overall effectiveness would improve at all levels, including community-based responses (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2019). The second way interventions could have been strengthened is by developing comprehensive protocols in the process of mental health screening programs. Creating a more comprehensive guideline in this field would mean that there is prompt identification of mental health issues and addressing them in due time. There also would be standardized tools with the training of most frontline responders.
The response could have been improved by enhancing cultural outreach program competency. There would be more responders immediately at the scene of an accident, which would mean that most people have the training. Implementing Telehealth services would also improve due to addressing barriers with remote access to mental health treatments and assessments. Community resilience can also receive some boost and upgrade through education to have people know various ways to cope with these traumatic events. These include stress management and ways of getting early intervention for the community’s well-being.
Conclusion
The community-based response concerning the 9/11 attacks depicted the presence of both strengths and weaknesses. Several efforts were directed to address the traumatic events; however, more could have been done. Implementing the evidence-based approach to screening and promoting cultural competency would be some of the future responses. There could also be the promotion of more resilience in most communities for more effective treatment of mental health issues. Thus, a foundation is laid about the lessons learned from the 9/11 attack, which would ensure more equitable and robust responses in case of these unforeseen events.
References
Clements, B. W., & Casani, J. A. P. (2016). Disaster behavioral health. Disasters and Public Health, 103–117. Web.
DeLisi, L. E. (2004). The New York Experience: Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001. 167–178. Web.
Gaibulloev, K., & Sandler, T. (2019). “What we have learned about terrorism since 9/11.” Journal of Economic Literature, 57(2), 275–328. Web.
Rose, A. Z., & Blomberg, S. B. (2010). Total economic consequences of terrorist attacks: insights from 9/11. Peace Economics, Peace Science and Public Policy, 16(1). Web.
Watson, P., & Hamblen, J. (2017). Assisting individuals and communities after natural disasters and community traumas. In S. N. Gold (Ed.), APA handbook of trauma psychology: Foundations in knowledge (pp. 87–97). American Psychological Association. Web.