The World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence (CCE) at Mount Sinai recently welcomed occupational medicine physicians and public health advocates from the Netherlands on a study trip to learn about the mental health impact of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 on first responders.
The event, held Tuesday, June 11, focused on sharing two decades of experience caring for 9/11 responders living with the enduring effects of exposure to psychological trauma and environmental toxins.
Franz van den Nieuwenhof, MD, an occupational medicine physician from VerzuimConsult in the Netherlands, a leading consulting firm providing occupational health support to employers, noted the significant increase in mental health issues among Dutch health care workers following the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to those experienced by responders after 9/11.
“In our search for possible solutions, we came across references to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to 9/11. This literature emphasized the extensive experience that New York has gained in the treatment and support of PTSD patients since the 9/11 attacks,” he said. “During our quest for new insights, it became clear that the WTC Health Program played a big role in this work, with connections to the expertise of specialists from The Mount Sinai Hospital. We are confident that we can learn much from their approach.”
From left: Franz van den Nieuwenhof, MD, Sandra M. Lowe, MD, and Michael Crane, MD, MPH
Sandra M. Lowe, MD, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, and Environmental Medicine, and Medical Director of the WTC Mental Health Program, delivered a presentation titled “9/11 Responder Mental Health: 20 Years of WTC Health Program Experience,” highlighting the association between disaster exposure and adverse health outcomes.
“Twenty years of research on 9/11 health outcomes has demonstrated not only the clear association between disaster exposure and adverse psychological effects, but also that there are meaningful actions we can take to treat trauma-associated conditions and alleviate suffering in disaster-exposed populations,” she said.
The WTC Health Program, a component of the Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health, is the largest such center in the country and proudly cares for more than 25,000 responders at its Manhattan, Staten Island, Suffern, and Yonkers, New York, locations.
The panel also featured Agata Bednarska, MSW, Outreach and Education Manager, and Rachel Yehoda, MPH, Health Literacy Manager, who presented on mental health outreach and communication strategies. The meeting concluded with a discussion led by Kathryn Marrone, LCSWR, Director of Social Work, Amy Cushing-Savvi, LCSW, Assistant Director of Social Work, and Massielle Morales-Miller, LCSW, Social Work Supervisor, focusing on health monitoring, case management, and the role of psychosocial support in workplace wellness.
“To provide the highest standard of care to our responders, we have established a comprehensive case management and care coordination team,” said Ms. Marrone.
Michael Crane, MD, MPH, Medical Director of the Selikoff Centers, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share knowledge with international colleagues.
“We hope our lessons learned and best practices will assist in establishing policies and programs around mental health,” he said. “Workplace health promotion programs have proven to be successful, especially when they combine mental and physical health interventions like we do through the WTC Health Program.”
In closing remarks, Dr. Lowe highlighted the WTC Health Program’s critical role caring for 9/11 exposed workers, and its dedication to sharing valuable knowledge.
“Our team is privileged to be part of the WTC Health Program and we are dedicated to contributing the insights we’ve gained to support initiatives that enhance mental health education and services, especially for individuals affected by trauma and chronic occupational stress,” said Dr. Lowe. “It’s a responsibility we take seriously.”