Terrorism causing mental illnesses

Terrorism causing mental illnesses

* Some psychiatrists say blast victims fall victim to psychological illnesses
* Say media should sensitise, not terrorise, public

By Manzoor Ali Shah
dailytimes.com.pk
PESHAWAR: The suicide attacks and terrorist acts across the country are causing fears and psychological diseases in society, psychiatrists told Daily Times on Tuesday.
Dr Abdul Shafiq, a trainee medical officer (TMO) at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH)’s Psychiatry Department, said that the recent consecutive suicide attacks had caused anxiety among people. Now everyone fears while walking in a bazaar, car parking lot or other public places. He said a businessman was recently hospitalised, for he was considering his life useless and was indifferent towards everything. “I examined the patient’s case history, and found that the patient had witnessed a bomb blast in Peshawar Saddar in the 90s and the incident made him feel sick,” he added.
Dr Shafiq said the terrorist acts created disturbance in society and that when people said, “One doesn’t know whether or not they would be able to return to their homes by the evening,” it was not mere talk but that this thought was running deep in society.
These days, most people outside their homes usually phone their families to tell them that they are safe, he said, adding that some witnesses to blasts fell victim to trauma.
Dr Shafiq also said most blast victims usually developed psychological illnesses at a later stage. He said economic and domestic problems, coupled with security fears, lead to nervous breakdown, which makes a person psychologically handicapped.
He said some media organisations were causing anxiety in society by publishing or telecasting horrible pictures or scenes, which adversely affect people’s brain. He added that the media should sensitise the public about an issue, and should avoid terrorising people.
Dr Idress at the Khyber Teaching Hospital told Daily Times that terrorism was causing fears and added that consecutive blasts might cause psychological and physical diseases. He said tension and anxiety were common disorders attached to fear that damage normal life.
Prof Dr Rahat Sajjad of the University of Peshawar (UoP)’s Psychology Department said that terrorist acts were causing fear in society and that the public was afraid of going out of their houses. People want to listen good news everyday, but the bad depresses them.
Asked about media’s role, he said it was playing both positive and negative roles, “Positive in the sense that media raise awareness and negative because some organisations exaggerate little crimes, “she added.