Post-traumatic stress disorder is developed from stressful situations or
events. It is often greater when the incident follows other stressful
situations in one's life. For police who are under stress specifically
in the nature of the work, an added feature can potentially be a problem
is the thesis of most people studying this mental health concern. It is of particular concern for those who study the behaviors of people, including the police, during disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the potential for PTSD development.
The University of Buffalo
has decided to examine the long-range concerns on police resulting from
the stresses surrounding Hurricane Katrina and the terrible flooding of
the City of New Orleans that followed.
The study of police officers is being funded by a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
John Violanti, PhD,
research associate professor in UB's School of Public Health and Health
Professions and former member of the New York State Police, will be
leading the research.
research associate professor in UB's School of Public Health and Health
Professions and former member of the New York State Police, will be
leading the research.
“Previous
research suggests that disasters have a harmful impact on a person’s
mental health,” Violanti tells us, “and no more is this evident than in
those who respond first to disaster, conduct rescue and recovery
missions, and try to maintain civil order, as well as deal with their
own personal losses.
research suggests that disasters have a harmful impact on a person’s
mental health,” Violanti tells us, “and no more is this evident than in
those who respond first to disaster, conduct rescue and recovery
missions, and try to maintain civil order, as well as deal with their
own personal losses.
“Such
was the case with the police in the New Orleans area during Katrina,”
he continues. “In addition, the police, as well as all residents, were
impacted by the lack of essential services following the storm. Because
of this void in services, mental health among those most exposed at
multiple levels of the storm -- the first responders -- got no relief.
This may have led to a prolonged strain and extension of symptoms over
time.”
was the case with the police in the New Orleans area during Katrina,”
he continues. “In addition, the police, as well as all residents, were
impacted by the lack of essential services following the storm. Because
of this void in services, mental health among those most exposed at
multiple levels of the storm -- the first responders -- got no relief.
This may have led to a prolonged strain and extension of symptoms over
time.”
The ordinary
tasks of police work have already been shown to impact police officers,
putting them at risk for heart problems, high blood pressure, trouble
sleeping and even suicide.
tasks of police work have already been shown to impact police officers,
putting them at risk for heart problems, high blood pressure, trouble
sleeping and even suicide.
While news
media have looked at the confrontations between the police and ordinary
citizens during Hurricane Katrina, with corruption and violence cited in
the incidents where innocent people were killed by police, there are
issues referencing police transcending that.
media have looked at the confrontations between the police and ordinary
citizens during Hurricane Katrina, with corruption and violence cited in
the incidents where innocent people were killed by police, there are
issues referencing police transcending that.
Specific stresses and police issues developed in St. Bernard's Parish
where pressures mounted in an area predominantly white but escalated by
the press orientation toward black districts and focus on race. The
focus on those committing crimes, or thought to be when people were
actually foraging for food and necessary maintenance supplies, made
white people especially anxious in the parish, according to reports.
where pressures mounted in an area predominantly white but escalated by
the press orientation toward black districts and focus on race. The
focus on those committing crimes, or thought to be when people were
actually foraging for food and necessary maintenance supplies, made
white people especially anxious in the parish, according to reports.
This parish is also where
levee failure surrounding the floods was targeted especially with
citizen support, making this parish of significance in dealing with
added stressors.
levee failure surrounding the floods was targeted especially with
citizen support, making this parish of significance in dealing with
added stressors.
74% of the
victims of Hurricane Katrina were the sick and elderly, something seldom
mentioned then or now when the problems are discussed. Police were
therefore torn between the stereotypes maintained by neighborhood
issues, their own lifestyle stresses and the unknown factors, all of
which will form the bulk of the research investigations.
victims of Hurricane Katrina were the sick and elderly, something seldom
mentioned then or now when the problems are discussed. Police were
therefore torn between the stereotypes maintained by neighborhood
issues, their own lifestyle stresses and the unknown factors, all of
which will form the bulk of the research investigations.
It is that
study researchers say must be done so that the prevention of police
abuses and the mental health injuries that take place on those who try
to do their work well in protecting citizens can be aided.
study researchers say must be done so that the prevention of police
abuses and the mental health injuries that take place on those who try
to do their work well in protecting citizens can be aided.
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