Remembering a Traumatized Nation

About a year after the posting of this weekly video for Psychiatry & Society, I think we can now conclude that the answer to the title question of “Are We a Traumatized Nation?" is: YES.

Back about a year ago, there was some optimism for addressing mass shootings after one in California, especially commentary by the well-known journalist David Brooks.

I said it seemed like we were living in a posttraumitic mist at that time. Now it seems like a steady rain of mass shootings day by day, recently including the deadly storm at Uvalde elementary school. Moreover, we are still subject to the losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change disasters, and racial conflict, among other societal traumas. It is PTSD Awareness Month, but we have plenty of awareness. What we need is political and psychiatric action to reduce the traumas and their adverse repercussions rippling across the United States. My personal recommendation for mass shootings in particular has been to start a mens movement called DIGS: Dads Into Gun Safety, modeled after the successful MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Dr Moffic is an award-winning psychiatrist who has specialized in the cultural and ethical aspects of psychiatry. A prolific writer and speaker, he received the one-time designation of being a Hero of Public Psychiatry from the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association in 2002. He has recently been leading Tikkun Olam advocacy movements on climate instability, burnout, Islamophobia, and anti-Semitism for a better world. He serves on the Editorial Board of Psychiatric Times™.