More than a month after the quake, on the island and abroad, the mental health of Haitians needs help too.
“Just like after September 11, whenever someone experiences something like this they develop trauma,” said Doctor Jaime Carcamo, a clinical psychologist based in Woodside who collaborates with the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, and gives therapy to 9/11 survivors.
However, Carcamo warns that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect Haitians everywhere.
“This will also affect families in the United States and will also qualify as a traumatic incident that can cause PTSD, but triggered by different factors,” he said.
The traumatic incident of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12 and left, according to Haitian government officials, around 230,000 people dead and around three million displaced, will resonate for years to come, not only as the rebuilding efforts get underway but as the Haitian community confronts their emotional wounds.
According to Carcamo, the people in Haiti directly affected by the earthquake would most likely develop PTSD as a result of the traumatic experience. Though the most common, in addition to PTSD, victims can develop an array of other disorders like major depressive disorder, depression disorder, panic disorder, and anxiety.
Normal reactions to traumatic events like this one include intrusive and distressing memories or thoughts, nightmares, avoiding talking about the events, wishing they could hide and forget, avoiding situations that remind them of the event – like being inside a building for the Haitians on the island – hyper arousal symptoms like fast heart palpitations, sweating hands, inability to sleep, and hyper vigilance – where they expect something to happen again and do not feel safe anywhere.
However, if the symptoms persist for over a month, that’s when it becomes PTSD even for families in the U.S.
“Not knowing who perished or knowing that a relative is suffering,” could trigger symptoms, said Carcamo, like sleep disorder and insomnia, heart palpitations. Carcamo has already started working with at least one local Haitian family trying to get a relative into the U.S. “There is a lot of fear that a loved one might end up getting killed as a result of what’s going on there.”
In Cambria Heights where the largest Haitian community resides in Queens, the trauma became apparent immediately.
“The first three weeks was a nightmare,” said Jean Vallone about the people who cried as they stood in line ordering food at Good Taste food takeout establishment on 299 Linden Boulevard. “It’s going to take them awhile.”
Vallone said he knew of one family that lost 28 members and of a nine member music band with only one band member still alive. Even Vallone, who did not lose any family members in the quake, was not immune. His mother lives in a tent in the Santo neighborhood and he’s worried about her and the sanitary and food conditions in Port-au-Prince, which he described as “a nightmare.”
Down the street from Good Taste, the Brassiere Creole Restaurant at 227-02 Linden Boulevard had a lot less customers near dinner time on Valentine’s Day, usually one of the busiest days of the year. Manager Ruddy Chapoteau said that since the earthquake his business has dropped 50 percent.
“People just stay home and grieve,” he said. “They are in mourning.”
Traumatic grief, another mental health condition to look out for according to Carcamo, generally occurs after six months – give or take – of mourning.
“It’s basically the inability to let go,” said Carcamo, and “those [people] will require professional attention.”
For the grief period, Carcamo recommends that individuals seek support groups and systems like churches and cultural associations. “It’s good to mourn together,” he said.
In the long-term however, if the emotional symptoms interfere with daily normal activities causing a lack of sleep or a lack of concentration at work, they should seek the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist.
“If an individual gets depressed, doesn’t get out of bed, cries all day – any sudden big change – these are red flags,” said Carcamo.
Generally, Carcamo said, people respond differently to trauma and treatment depending on age and gender. Children, the elderly and women tend to develop early onset of PTSD, however they also seek treatment earlier. Men, on the other hand, oftentimes due to cultural stigmas, avoid getting professional treatment.
“The interesting part about this is that most people think they can recover on their own,” said Carcamo. “I still have individuals coming to see me eight years after 9/11.”
To the Haitians in Cambria Heights the strength and resilience of the people in Haiti will get them through these tough times. But ironically and unfortunately, recognized Vallone, the situation in Haiti could still get worse.
“Within the next 40 to 50 years, Haiti will be upside down,” said Vallone. “There are other things they need besides money like doctors, nurses and people who can deal with mental problems. This will never end.”
