‘We Will Never Ever Forget...’: The Swissair Flight 111 Disaster and its Impact on Volunteers and Communities

• Published in: Journal of health psychology Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 245 - 262
• Main Authors: Mitchell, Terry L., Griffin, Kara, Stewart, Sherry H., Loba, Pamela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England SAGE Publications 01.03.2004
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Aircraft; Aviation; Communities; Cooperative Behavior; Disasters; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Residence Characteristics; Sampling Studies; Social Support; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Volunteers; PAR; PTSD; volunteers; communities; disaster
• ISSN: 1359-1053; 1461-7277
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105304040890

In collaboration with a Community Advisory Group we examined the impact of the 1998 Swissair Flight 111 disaster on volunteer responders and surrounding communities. We conducted qualitative interviews and administered a set of structured questionnaires to 13 volunteer disaster workers and conducted a focus group with community leaders. Community silence and limited help-seeking behaviour were typical reactions to the SA 111 disaster. The nature and duration of the disaster response efforts contributed to a probable 46 per cent PTSD rate in the community volunteers. Community-based, culturally appropriate followup, as well as the development of volunteer protocols for future disaster response efforts, are necessary to minimize long-term health impacts and to promote resilience among community residents and volunteers exposed to a major disaster.