Lessons learned from 9/11: Mental health perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic

Jonathan DePierro; Sandra Lowe; Craig Katz

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113024

Lessons learned from 9/11: Mental health perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic

Psychiatry Res. 2020 Jun:288:113024. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113024. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Authors

Jonathan DePierro¹, Sandra Lowe², Craig Katz³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: jonathan.depierro@mssm.edu.
² Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
³ Departments of Psychiatry, Medical Education, and Health System Design & Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic will likely lead to high rates of PTSD, depression, and substance misuse among survivors, victims' families, medical workers, and other essential personnel. The mental health response to the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks, culminating in a federally-funded health program, provides a template for how providers may serve affected individuals. Drawing on the 9/11 experience, we highlight effective prevention measures, likely short and long-term treatment needs, vulnerable subgroups, and important points of divergence between 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health monitoring, early identification of at-risk individuals, and treatment irrespective of financial barriers are essential for minimizing chronic distress.

Keywords: Disaster mental health; Emergency responders; PTSD.

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections / psychology*
Depression
Health Personnel / psychology
Humans
Mental Health Services*
Mental Health*
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral / psychology*
SARS-CoV-2
September 11 Terrorist Attacks / psychology
Survivors / psychology*
Terrorism