| Surgeon General: War Affects Americans
Fri, Apr. 04, 2003
JULIANA BARBASSA
Associated Press
SAN JOSE, Calif. - War is taking a mental toll on Americans
whether they experience it directly, through loved ones on the battlefield
or through television, Surgeon General Richard Carmona told psychologists
Friday.
"Today, there's no greater mental health issue facing
us as a nation than the effects of terrorism and war," Carmona told
a meeting of the California Psychological Association in San Jose. "Your
expertise is paramount to our nation's health."
Not only will service members need help after seeing "hell
on earth," but friends and family may be rattled when their loved
ones return as very different people, Carmona said. He added that it took
him time as are turning Vietnam veteran to resume his life.
"Sometimes the toughest battles are right here,"
he said, pointing to his head.
Watching the barrage of 24-hour news about the war may cause trauma that
is not immediately evident, Carmona said. Research shows that although
humans are resilient, chronic fear can be damaging, he said.
Carmona cited recommendations by the American Psychological
Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including
taking a break from the news and helping others by volunteering.
Carmona also said parents should find out how much their
children understand about the war, limit their exposure to violent images,
spend more time with them and reassure them that they are safe.
ON THE NET
Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/
American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/
War Threatens Mental Health,
Surgeon General Says
Fri April 4, 2003 09:22 PM ET
By Lisa Baertlein
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Reuters) - The risk of another domestic
terror attack combined with the new stress of war adds up to the nation's
No. 1 mental health threat, the U.S. surgeon general said on Friday.
"There's no greater mental health issue facing us
as a nation than the effects of terrorism and war," Richard Carmona,
a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran, said in a speech at the California
Psychological Association's annual convention.
"We cannot allow this to become the forgotten wound
for anyone, including our children," Carmona said. "We are living
in a state of elevated risk ...We're all struggling to find out how much
information is enough."
Psychologists at the convention said members of the armed
forces, now in combat, will need extra care upon their return.
Even far from the war in Iraq, people on the home front
already are feeling anxious, powerless or depressed, and showing more irritability,
forgetfulness and distractibility.
Oscar Cervantes, who treats mostly Spanish-speakers and
migrant workers, said some of his patients cannot stop watching television
or talking about the often-repetitive, round-the-clock war coverage.
Children aged 4 to 6 years are particularly vulnerable.
"They're scared that the war is actually here. They're really terrified,"
he said.
Cervantes, like many of his peers, is telling patients
to limit television or just switch it off.
Many psychologists traced the latest wave of angst to the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
"September 11 taught us that we're vulnerable. Our
life is not the same ...People are frightened. There's a need to give (people)
some tools to get beyond that," said psychologist Michael Ritz.
Jana Martin, president of the California Psychological
Association, said however that Americans were better equipped to deal with
mental health issues since Sept. 11. "We're much more hyper-vigilant.
We're quicker to react, and quicker to calm down," she said.
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