September 11, five years on

Sep 11 2006

Five years on from September 11, the University of Western Sydney can offer expert comment on how the anniversary is likely to affect those who lost loved ones in the tragedy and how it will impact on people around the world.

Professor Beverley Raphael is the head of the UWS School of Medicine's specialist research unit into the mental health issues associated with terrorism, disasters and other adversity.

Former Director of the New South Wales Centre for Mental Health, Professor Raphael has led the mental health response to mass disasters like the Granville rail disaster, Ash Wednesday bushfires, the Newcastle earthquake and more recently, the Bali bombings and South East Asian tsunami.

Professor Raphael also organised the mental health program to respond in the event of an incident with the 2000 Sydney Olympics, overseeing the development of a manual which provided the most up-to-date knowledge and practice.

The manual has been widely used internationally, including the support response to September 11 in 2001.

Professor Raphael can comment on the feelings of loss, grief and sadness that will be stirred in all of us, particularly among those who lost loved ones in the attacks.

She says the anniversary may remind us of other acts of terrorism, and may also trigger reminders of our own personal grief.

"Feelings of sadness continue, not only for the loss of human life, but also for the loss of the sense of safety, of a predictable future. There is a sense of greater uncertainty, which can influence what we think and do," says Professor Raphael.

"Terrorism threatens us psychologically and the fear and anger generated may reawaken old traumas in our lives, or may impact on our well being in other ways.

"Supporting each other through times of grief, fear and uncertainty, through anniversaries and the reminders they bring, is an important part of our human response.

"For all of us, we are learning how to deal with the spectre of terrorism, which is part of our existence. Since 9/11 we've had subsequent acts of terrorism, so the anniversary is likely to remind of those as well.

"However the events of 9/11 also show us just how resilient and courageous the human spirit can be under extraordinary circumstances."