Senior Director, Office of Human Services October 8, 2001 Dear Colleagues: Since Sept. 11, the leadership of the university and staff members of the Office of Human Services have been working to ensure that the effects of that day do not cause us even more difficulty in our lives. We want to bring several developments to your attention. First, many members of the Hopkins community have asked about the extent of losses to individuals connected to the wider Hopkins family. They want to be certain that they are offering their sympathy and support to all who are affected by these tragic events. If you would like to share information about the loss of someone close to you so that this information can be shared, in turn, with the Hopkins community, call the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) at 410-955-1220 and let us know the details. Second, keep in mind that, for some individuals, initial efforts to cope with emotional and physical stress caused by the attacks on New York and Washington have begun to wear thin just as the news has broken about the start of U.S.-led counterstrikes . Some people now are experiencing more difficulty than immediately after Sept. 11. Also, new stress may be occurring in homes where a relative of a Hopkins staffer has lost a job because of the economic repercussions of the attack. Delayed stress reactions are not unusual after an event like this. We urge you to revisit www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/911/coping/suggest1.html to check out the signs and symptoms. If you are struggling with any of them on a regular or periodically intense basis, consider contacting FASAP to obtain a consultation from one of the staff. Information on how to make an appointment is available at the FASAP Web site at www.jhu.edu/~hr1/fasap/fasap.htm or www.fasap.org. Our staff members are also conducting ongoing support groups for those who want to discuss their reactions in a group setting. Information is also available at the FASAP Web site. Finally, we are also hearing about delayed reactions in family members of some Hopkins employees. In particular, we have had reports of children having problems such as irritability, sleeplessness, difficulty sleeping in their own beds, fighting at home or in school, or problems with concentration. Some children are anxious about their parents flying on university business. Again, if your family is experiencing any of these difficulties, consider contacting FASAP for a consultation. If we all continue to support each other, we can keep the damage to our families, our colleagues and ourselves to a minimum. Please keep checking in with your family members, friends and colleagues to make sure they know they are not alone, and let us know if we can assist you.
Sincerely,
Go to Johns Hopkins Responds ... Sept 11th | Counterterrorism | Emergency Preparedness
|