Communication to counter the effects of terror attacks

Communication to counter the effects of terror attacks

Communication is an essential strategy to counter the effects of terror attacks. It makes people aware of the impending attacks, hence helping to save lives. There are instances where the terror groups are using social media to gather information on where to attack. As a result, it is the responsibility of the authorities to disseminate information to the population regarding terror attacks  (Jaeger et al., 2007). This will help to reduce fear and anxiety, which is one of the main objectives of terror attacks. One of the ways the government can disseminate information about terror attacks is through quickly implemented open communication. This will help to ensure that the information being passed to the members of the public is correct. Additionally, open discussion provides that the information being passed reaches the maximum number of people, hence helping to reduce fear among the citizens. Proactive communication helps to prevent the dissemination of false information, which can be used by the terrorist to take advantage of members of the society (Jaeger et al., 2007). Apart from open communication, the government is also using social media sites to disseminate information about terror attacks. This is achieved by relevant authorities addressing the public in various ways like direct speech to enlighten them on the matter. The competent authorities can also pass official messages. Thus, the strategy chosen by the government to disseminate information should be able to reach the maximum number of people.

There are various interventions applied to the victims of terrorism and the public at large. Most of them are aimed to enable the affected people to recover from the terrible experience. These interventions have various impacts on the population and individuals (Lum, Kennedy, & Sherley, 2006). First, when the government decides to provide the affected people with basic needs, this enables the victims to recover from the experience without experiencing many challenges. They concentrate on the recovery process rather than being concerned about the unmet needs. Another intervention may be paying for the medical bills of the victims. This gives them a chance to recover from the situation. The government may also take the initiative to enlighten people on the steps to take in case of another terror attack. This enables members of the public to save their lives by practising the guidelines given during the intervention. The interventions may also help to sustain the psychological, behavioral and social functioning of the affected people (Lum et al., 2006). Taking them through guidance and counselling can enable them to cope with the matter without difficulties. In most cases, terror attacks affect the whole population, because in most cases, the attackers target areas accommodating a large number of people. This implies that the interventions applied to victims of terrorism can have positive impacts on the whole population.

Mass casualty terror attacks cause traumatic situations to the victims, hence altering their mental functioning. There are various psychological consequences of such attacks. They include injuring the mental health and well being of the victims of terrorisms (Neria, Gross, & Marshall, 2006). Additionally, the affected people can also have experiences of acute symptoms of stress like helplessness, anxiety and even fear. Other post-traumatic symptoms include reduced productivity in the workplace and the inability of the victims to develop social relationships (Neria et al., 2006). Victims may also develop post-traumatic stress disorder due to their terrible experiences. From the research carried out on terrorism, it is evident that the terror attack has more significant psychological consequences, especially when it involves massive casualties.

 
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