The entire world rejoiced as 33 miners were rescued after 68 days of being trapped in a collapsed mine in Chile.
But, as strange as it may sound, a local expert believes the hard part might still be ahead for the rescued men.
“The sheer relief should carry them a long way,” said Dr. Dan Beach, a clinical psychologist and chair of the Psychology Department at Dominican University. “But after that, there is the risk of more long-term disorders.”
Beach spoke to TribLocal Wednesday afternoon while Chilean rescuers where a little more than halfway through pulling the men from their isolated mine a half-mile below ground. Beach, an Oak Park resident, has spoken about psychological effects for the miners on BBC News and WGN Radio, and has been interviewed by multiple newspapers in both Canada and the U.S.
Beach, who studies trauma and has treated victims of torture and prisoners of war, said victims could start experiencing psychological problems about four weeks after the event, with early problems like sleep disorders or nightmares setting in. It can start with acute stress disorder, which can last up to a month, then Post Traumatic Stress Disorder later on. He said as many as 30 percent of trauma victims can experience PTSD, but expects that the miners will not be as vulnerable because, like soldiers, they are more emotionally prepared for dangerous situations.
“These fellows might be on the lower end of the spectrum,” Beach said. “They chose to go down into the mines and knew they were taking certain risks. They are used to dealing with high-risk situations.”
Early psychological treatment is key to avoid long-term issues, he said, and the miners need to be told that their feelings of anger and frustration are normal for trauma victims. But the worldwide attention and instant celebrity can create its own problems. Beach said all the attention — potential lawsuits, book and movie offers, and opportunists looking to cash in on their new fame — can create new stress. And unlike the stresses of isolation in the mine, these are issues they have no preparation in how to deal with.
“These are average Joes,” Beach said. “They did not choose to be in the spotlight. There is the potential for a lot of chaotic turmoil.”
But with so much attention on the miners, Beach said the impact on loved ones can be just as powerful. While they were trapped, the miners were able to assist the rescue in certain ways like clearing the area for evacuation. In general, Beach said, they were able to keep busy and felt like they helped themselves get rescued. Family members, meanwhile, only waited with feelings of helplessness.
“At least (the miners) had duties,” he said. “It was almost like a military operation. They knew rescue was on the way and could lend a hand in the rescue. Families, on the other hand, couldn’t lend a hand. They couldn’t go out there and help dig the hole.”
Many trauma victims will be forever changed by the events, Beach said, which can put more stress on personal relationships. Spouses won’t be able to understand the miner’s trauma, and vice versa.
“It’s very similar to military personnel coming home after the brutalities of war,” Beach said. “They can talk to family members, and the family can try to understand, but it is difficult to completely understand what they went through.”
He said all the miners will have different psychological effects based on background and previous mental health. But the uniqueness of the situation makes long-term effects harder to predict, Beach said. The entire ordeal, which Beach called “a perfect storm of calamity,” including the initial 17 days of hopelessness, combined with the long isolation, high heat and humidity of the mine and intense media coverage of the rescue, makes it a traumatic event unlike any other.
“I’m sure this will be studied for years to come,” he said.
