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Jennifer Choi
Assistant Director, Media Relations
NYU Medical Center Public Affairs
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E-mail: Jennifer.Choi@nyumc.org

Psychosocial Crisis Support Expert at NYU Medical Center Available To Talk About Mining Disaster Aftermath

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2006 — Esther Chachkes, DSW, Director of Social Work at NYU Medical Center and Coordinator of the NYUMC Psychosocial Crisis Support Team, which was activated after September 11th, is available to speak about the aftermath of the mining disaster for families and the lone survivor. Dr. Chachkes says, "This is an extremely traumatic and complex situation." She adds, "There is the roller coaster of thinking that the miners were alive then finding they were dead, possible negligence on the part of the mining firm, and the death of loved ones." Dr. Chachkes notes that family members of the survivor struggle with not knowing the extent of his injuries and are left to wonder whether or not he will survive. She says, "These miners and their families live under the constant threat of accidents not unlike Israelis or Iraqis who live under the constant threat of terrorism and suicide bombers." As a result, "Often, denial and compartmentalization are used to deal with such constant threats, so there is a question of how the families coped in general and what kind of support system is in place."

Dr. Chachkes believes practical decisions must be addressed before people seek the help of psychologists. These include informing children and extended family members of the news, making funeral arrangements, and coping with financial issues. She also emphasizes the need to provide these families with emotional and psychological education, so that people will be aware of the warning signs which may indicate the need for additional help.

Lastly, Dr. Chachkes adds, "Depending on his condition, the lone survivor will most certainly need the help of a mental health expert to cope with possible guilt especially depending on what happened during the ordeal."

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