When Barrie Moss tries to sleep tonight at his home in Cumbria, he will likely find himself assailed with terrible nightmares, if visions of the dying woman in his arms re-play themselves let him sleep at all. Sean King, landlord of the Boot Inn where a shaken community tried to find calm in cups of tea and society, may be counting economic losses while also wondering if his home is as safe as he thought.
Visitors from across the country may avoid the town for some time, even though a repeat of events makes no logical sense. Then again, post traumatic stress disorder can result in unrealistic fears even among those not directly involved in tragic events like the Cumbria shootings of June 2nd.
Residents, health care providers and the country will be counting the cost for some time to come as emotions run high throughout Whitehaven and surrounding North England villages. They will be asking themselves why 52 year-old taxi driver Derrick Bird could killed twelve people and injured 25 others before shooting himself. How can a person conceal such deadly intent under a gentle exterior?
Confusion will only add to the intense emotional trauma to come. Witnesses, survivors, friends and family all suffer in the days, weeks and years that follow an horrific tragedy, while unanswered questions may prevent a sense of closure. In the case of a small, closely knit community, the worst trauma will primary victims, individuals immediately affected, rippling out to touch those closest to the perpetrator, then even into the community at large. People will ask themselves ‘is anywhere safe?’ Whitehaven is known for a low crime rate. Murder simply does not occur within its invisible boundary lines, yet for a while there will be people afraid to go out on their own by day or close their eyes at night.
Survivors of natural disasters, sexual abuse and extreme violence frequently report frightening dreams, emotional disconnection and difficulty remembering events. The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (NCPSD) notes that such symptoms emerge most acutely in primary victims. The injured still recovering in hospital, cyclist Barrie Moss: they will need immediate intervention. This can include counseling, social support systems provided by friends, family and churches, even medication. NCPSD also points out that everyone affected by a tragedy such as the Cumbria can lessen the effects of PTSD by talking about their feelings, staying active, and remaining informed as more information surfaces.
In the meantime, the press can expect Whitehaven, Seascale and other local villages to show resentment at their intrusion. Bird’s relatives, acquaintances and co-workers will feel attacked as Britain continues to ask how they failed to notice Bird’s deteriorating mental state before intervention was too late. Others have asked the same questions and come up with the identical answer. No one expects a gentle, popular friend and father to commit mass murder. As with similar events of the past which have left communities baffled and bloodied, for now the change seems to have occurred overnight.
Written by Candice Lucey
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