Study: BP oil spill caused widespread mental distress

By Staff Writer

Past studies have shown that traumatic events can affect the long-term mental health of children and teenagers. Some people believe that a troubling event has to occur in direct proximity of an individual for he or she to become emotionally disturbed.

However, a new study that examined the psychological impact of the 2010 BP oil spill reveals that people in nearby communities who were not directly touched by oil have suffered emotional problems. The report, which appears in the online edition of Environmental Health Perspectives, states that people living in communities with and without direct oil exposure experienced similar levels of psychological problems.

Researchers examined the spill's impact in two communities, Baldwin County, Alabama and Franklin County, Florida. The Alabama community had direct oil exposure, while Franklin County did not. Florida residents who were surveyed exhibited signs of depression and anxiety because of the anticipation and fear that the spill could negatively impact their lives.

A neuropsychologist from the University of Maryland said that a crisis such as the BP oil spill can impact the mental health of those residents outside of the directly affected areas. Intervention treatments may be needed for people who begin to fear for their own safety and financial stability.

Adolescents who have been exposed to the repercussions of a traumatic event - whether directly or indirectly - may benefit from boarding schools, which aim to provide help for troubled teens.