First, as one of many voices at R3 Continuum, let me convey on behalf of all of us our profound sorrow at the terror and loss of life experienced by Parisians, the French people, and the international community due to the terrorist attacks last week.
I realized afterwards that I viewed these events both as a civilian and a social worker trained in crisis and trauma response. There were several things that occurred to me about the attacks that are instructive when we consider how to help our fellow human beings in times of terror or acute stress:
• The attacks amplified the value of preparation. The coordinated response by Parisian first responders appeared to be organized and practiced. It cannot be overemphasized how important preparedness is in situations like these. Part of preparation involves security. Dispatching clinicians to an area where violence has occurred always requires clearly ample physical security beforehand. We at R3 always use up-to-date information and clinical judgment to make certain that sites are secure before dispatching our consultants.
• The attacks reinforced the importance of action during and after a crisis. People need to be able to pitch in and do something, and see things being done by others. Sometimes the basis of what constitutes action can be quite minimal. News footage tends to involve a finite amount of video clips that are shown repeatedly in these kinds of situations. The great unknown overwhelms the minimal known, and it entails a lot of anxious waiting. That night I was drawn to a particular man dressed in black police fatigues who stood at loose attention and carried a machine gun. I don’t know if anyone else saw him, but he stood prominently in front of the camera (slightly to the side). Behind him, rescue workers in orange jackets prepared a makeshift first aid tent with gold insulated blankets intended for survivors. I’ll never know the identity of this man, but I watched him intently, and, naturally, speculated about him. I wondered what he was thinking. I believe that his quiet presence on this street corner, even if he had been unarmed, gave him something to do, something he was trained for. Even if stationary, he was performing an action, and was able to send a visual message of fortitude for his country and the world. He was both a sentinel and a witness. The medics in the background were, conversely in constant motion, and were preparing themselves to receive wounded citizens. Their actions demonstrated the importance of hope through means of saving lives and dispensing comfort. Coordinating subtle and conspicuous action during a crisis helps regulate our nervous systems and inspire and soothe the public.
• The attacks illustrated the natural interplay between instinctive relief and guilt. It was natural for me to be led by the mind’s tendency for patterns and association to recognize that my nephew was no longer in Paris (he had been residing in Paris recently). As quickly as I experienced relief with the knowledge that he was not in harm’s way, I experienced guilt in response to my self-serving reassurance. I was reminded that many people had lost loved ones, and I was briefly ashamed that I could feel grateful when others were in shock and agony. So it goes with crisis. Feelings beget feelings.
I thought these private observations of this public series of events might be helpful for those of us who routinely respond to a myriad of potentially disruptive events and full-fledged crises. These are examples of resources that can be cultivated, and reactions that can be normalized.
About the Author: Gordon Greer has been a respected mental health clinician in the Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area for over fifteen years. He earned his degree in English secondary education from Indiana University (IUPUI), and his master’s degree in clinical social work from Western Michigan University. Before joining R3 in 2015, Gordon worked at Forest View Hospital for more than a decade, with a specialization in psychiatric case management, adolescent/adult behavioral health, family therapy, group therapy, and the field of traumatic stress. He also coordinated Forest View’s regionally and nationally regarded Psychological Trauma Program, with a specialization in dissociative disorders and conditions related to traumatic stress. Gordon is a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), and has been trained in Critical Incident Response (CIR). Before completing his post-graduate work, he worked for The Salvation Army with individuals and families in crisis situations of homelessness. Gordon is the director of R3’s Productivity Assurance Call Center, which delivers dynamic telephonic solutions for organizations that encounter disruptive events in the workplace.
