After two massive shots in less than a week, mental health experts say the effects these horrible events have on the American public are amplified by the pandemic COVID-19.
On Monday, 10 people were killed in a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado. This event follows the deaths of eight people, including six Asian women, in shootings in Atlanta spas last week. In 2021 alone, there were 102 mass shootings, according to the Gun Policy Archive, with 4,123 deaths in total due to armed violence.
“When there is something about the case that resonates with you and that you identify with, it will have a very significant impact,” said Dr. Ronald Acierno, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at McGTH Medical School at UTHealth. “In that case, it was in a store where everyone goes. It is such a common daily activity that it is so much a part of us that it is particularly frightening to people. “
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general anxiety, depression and substance abuse are four of the main conditions that can develop because of trauma, especially in those who have personally witnessed a traumatic event, according to Acierno, who is also director from the UTHealth Trauma and Resilience Center, where they provide expert advice for all forms of trauma, from accidents to violence.
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“And that’s only when you name it,” he noted, adding that people can develop symptoms that don’t necessarily meet the threshold for a disorder diagnosis.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) describes common reactions after a disaster, including changes in sleep, changes in mood, decreased energy, changes in appetite, problems with concentration, headaches or other body aches and increased isolation. Children can also be affected, developing problems such as tantrums, getting into more fights or having problems with schoolwork.
These conditions have already been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dr. Louis Kraus, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center.
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The APA surveyed American adults in February, and many reported that since the start of the pandemic, they have had unwanted weight changes, are drinking more alcohol to cope with stress and are not getting the amount of sleep they want. This is particularly true for parents, essential workers, young people and people of color.
These reported health impacts indicate that many adults may be struggling to cope with stressors, including grief and trauma, and can lead to significant long-term individual and social consequences, including chronic illnesses and additional pressure on the country’s health system. .
“There is already such a high level of anxiety and tension with social detachment and people not being able to participate in their normal routines,” noted Dr. Paulina Riess, chair of ethics and clinical assistant professor in the psychiatric department at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Kraus emphasized that those who are affected need to reach out and get help.
“One of the most important things that people need to understand is that they need to get back to a normal lifestyle,” he said. “The longer you wait and wait, the harder it will be.”
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Dr. Jeffrey Geller, president of APA, agreed, saying, “If you are suffering, reach out.”
All providers note that mental health professionals are an important part of improving.
“Family and community are very important in these situations, but sometimes they are not enough,” said Kraus.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are concerned about a friend or loved one, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 [TALK]or send a TALK text message to 741-741 to get free confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also contact the Disaster Emergency Helpline at 1-800-985-5590.
Samuel Rothman, MD, is a resident physician in psychiatry and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. Tarun Jain, MD, is chief medical officer in internal medicine and pediatrics and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.
Mass shootings increase mental health problems already affected by COVID-19, originally published at abcnews.go.com