Public Employee Press

Answering the city's call
Risking their lives to prevent pollution disasters
Coping with trauma and stress

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

As public employees, DC 37 members poured their hearts into helping New Yorkers cope with the harsh blows of Hurricane Sandy.

They set up relief centers in schools and libraries and rescued flood victims. They kept public hospitals running and evacuated two that lost electric power.

They cared for the 40,000 people left homeless and kept vital sewage treatment plants functioning. They cleared the city's streets of fallen trees, and branches.

And they consoled traumatized people by simply listening to the personal stories of people whose lives Sandy turned upside down.

DC 37 members carried out their duties even as many of them faced their own personal hardships - no heat or electricity for days, even the loss of their homes. The stress mounted as city workers both helped victims and suffered as victims themselves.

Recognizing this, the Health and Hospitals Corp. offered its own workers the opportunity to be trained in stress management and help coworkers deal with the intense pressure on the job and at home. Dr. Leonard Davidman, a Psychologist 3 at Metropolitan Hospital and president of Psychologists Local 1189, was among 30 HHC staffers, including Social Workers represented by Local 768, who volunteered to help out their coworkers.

The training included webinars and instruction over the phone. The goal of the program was to teach workers how to recognize the symptoms of stress and deal with it on their own.

"You don't need to depend on anyone else," said Davidman, describing the message he conveyed to workers in the stress management program. "We want you to be able to take control of your life."

The program teaches participants to identify the common signs of trauma and stress: depression, helplessness, fear, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, tension and feeling on-edge.

Suggested coping mechanisms include slowly breathing in and out, muscle relaxation, exercise and listening to soothing music. Drugs and alcohol should be avoided.

"You want to keep to your routine and maintain the structure in your life," Davidman said. "You should share what's happening to you. But if things don't go away with time, you should consider seeking the help of a professional."