OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A recent study on the level of violence and its impact on citizens in areas of North Omaha reveals the need for mental health services for adults and children.
The study indicates more than 17% of adults and more than 24% of young people meet the clinical threshold for post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
More than 400 people were surveyed in the study. They answered questions about what was going on before police arrived on the scene in their northeast Omaha neighborhood.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES NEEDED FOR ADULTS, CHILDREN
“25% of respondents reported having been shot or shot at, 29% seeing someone else get shot, 12% witnessing someone being shot and killed by another person,” said Dr. William Reay, president of Omni Inventive Care.
Reay and Dr. Kris Tevis presented the study that determined the extent of PTSD in one area of northeast Omaha.
“The prevalence of post-traumatic stress in the pilot area is no less than 300% greater than what one would expect in research in the general population,” Reay said. “In fact, the pilot area prevalence is similar to what you would expect in an active war zone.”
Reay told members of the Douglas County Commissioners that there are not enough mental health services in the study area and recommended expanding the study.
“Expanding the use of the survey of the exposure to community violence across the North Omaha community would give Region Six and mental health providers and various community service providers a more granular appreciation of post-traumatic stress,” Reay said.
COUNTY BOARD QUESTIONS STUDY
Some Douglas County board members had questions about the survey and the study results.
“Who authored this? Where was the survey of exposure to community violence developed or who authored it?” asked Douglas County Commissioner Brian Fahey.
“Ultimately, the decision to use it in this context was yours, yes, sir, OK,” Fahey said.
“I know we’re trying to get at answers, but this feels like you’re trying to get at an agenda,” said Douglas County Commissioner Chris Rodgers.
“This is not new information we know about this, we’ve known for decades,” said Terri Crawford.
ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES
Terri Crawford is a professor at UNO and the second vice president of the Omaha NAACP. Crawford says we must first recognize and discuss the racial issues and poverty that exist in northeast Omaha and other urban areas.
“So until we address those issues as to how families find themselves under these circumstances, we have to address that first and then we can get to the family issues, the personal issues and then just their daily lived experiences,” Crawford said.
Crawford hopes this survey sparks deeper conversations that leads to providing trauma services to families. Dr. Reay believes something has to be done to deal with the issue.
“I believe also that the study shows that what’s been done is not working and to do more of the same is just foolish,” Reay said.
The survey cost $500,000 and took a month to complete. The project was funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services American Rescue Plan Act through the Nebraska Legislature.
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