Plane passengers face depression

A senior clinical psychologist yesterday said the passengers involved in the crash-landing of the Tobago Express plane at Piarco International Air-port on Monday may experience denial and repression due to the trauma of a life threatening experience. Denial is a defence mechanism. Some passengers may tell themselves “it wasn’t too bad,” said Dr  Krishna Maharaj, who works at St Ann’s Hospital. He told Newsday the impact of the incident may not manifest immediately but may do so three to six months after “as acute stress disorder, then post- traumatic stress disorder.” Symptoms of stress include insomnia, flashbacks, thinking about the incident constantly and anxiety.

Dr Maharaj said the way a person coped depended on their personality and coping strategies, but he advised all the people affected to seek counselling. He suggested that there was a “potential positive side” to the experience. Dr Maharaj said it could spur some people to review their lives and move toward more positive living. They are thankful to God, providence or good fortune for a second lease on life. “They can change certain aspects of  their lives having come so close to death.” They might determine to move in a positive direction if they were laissez-faire. Unfortunately for the people who were afraid of flying, Dr Maharaj said, a crash-landing can reinforce their fears.