After Tuesday’s attack, stress may be biggest enemy for most

Americans need to come together as a nation and show unity, an expert advises.

By Bill Douthat, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

The enormity of Tuesday's ter­rorist assaults could cause traumatic stress among tens of thousands of Americans, mental health counselors fear.

Scenes of airplanes crashing into buildings and people leaping to their deaths makes Tuesday's tragedy more indelible in the minds of citizens than the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City, they say.

"In Oklahoma, you didn't have the potential for every person in the United States becoming a victim," said Charles Figley, a Florida State University professor of social work and founder of an a group that trains trauma workers.

"Even the movie The Siege is pale in comparison to what happened in New York City," Figley said. The movie, starring Denzel Washington, is about terrorists setting off bombs in New York.

Tuesday's actual events were beyond Hollywood's imagination and more global than the Oklahoma federal building bombing, he said.

"It's more horrendous in a visual sense and it's more horrendous in the number of lives lost," Figley said.

The closing of government offices, companies and stores may have caused even more anxiety among some Americans, he said.

"I think it's really caused a lot of harm," Figley said.

By limiting people's activities, the shutdown may have left many with nothing to do but watch the horrific images of disaster on television.

"The more we close down this country, the worse it's going to be for people who are feeling alienation and anxiety," said Sherrie Raz of Boca Raton, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology and is a member with Figley in the Green Cross Projects, which counsels trauma victims.

John LaPointe, the staff therapist for the Broward County Sheriffs Office, says the break could be positive if people gathered with friends and family for emotional support.

LaPointe, who counsels law enforcement officers in Broward and Palm Beach counties who experi­ence traumatic stress, said Tuesday's events were difficult for many police and firefighters because of their colleagues who died doing their jobs.

"Police officers tend not to talk about their feelings," he said. "This might be a good time for them to pull their flock together and talk. It's hard to sort out information without the help of a professional or at least a good listener."

Raz said people need to come to­gether as a nation and show support by flying flags or turning on their headlights so that people know "that we are all in this together."

Figley said everyone should be sensitive when a family member or friend wants to talk about the week's events.

"Get them to talk about whatever is bothering them," he said. "Don't tell them they need to move on. If they were able to do that, they wouldn't be talking to you."

Boca firm offers to fly trauma team to N.Y. at no cost

By Bill Douthat, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

A team of traumatologists from Palm Beach County is preparing to travel to New York City within the next few days to help out in the aftermath of Tuesday's terrorist killings.

Universal Jet Aviation at Boca Raton Airport confirmed Wednesday that it's willing to fly the Green Cross Projects to New York at no cost.

Green Cross is waiting for specific assignments from mental health authorities in New York, said Sherrie Raz of Boca Raton, a board member of Green Cross.

About six certified traumatologists in Palm Beach County could make the trip, she said.

Raz, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology, said she'd also like to open a temporary center in a storefront office or health facility to help deal with people here who lost love ones in the terrorist attacks.

"We think its localized and contained in New York City, but it's not," she said. "It's very far-reaching."

Green Cross, a Tallahassee-based group that trains mental health professionals in counseling trauma victims, was formed after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Michael McCauley, president of Universal Jet, said he's ready to fly them as soon as they wish.

"We're sitting on the ground here and we'd love to do our part to assist them," McCauley said.