Explosive and shocking tragedies not only causes injuries and deaths but often trigger intense fear and distress affecting mental health. Such events can lead to widespread anxiety, emotional instability, and long-term psychological challenges for survivors as well as witnesses. People may struggle with a heightened sense of vulnerability, disrupted feelings of safety, and overwhelming grief, especially when lives are lost. Access to counselling and consistent mental health support becomes crucial in helping individuals process the trauma and rebuild their sense of security.
A CDC Study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that intentional mass-casualty events such as bombings and explosive tragedies are designed to cause death, destruction, fear, and confusion. Compared to natural disasters, such events are linked to higher rates of long-term psychological symptoms. The intensity of fear and distress after a bombing depends on several factors, including personal injury; injury or death of family members or friends; separation from or lack of information about loved ones; and witnessing horrific or frightening scenes. Emergency responders and healthcare providers may also experience psychological symptoms due to continuous exposure to death and devastation.
The recent Red Fort Blast, consultant psychiatrist Dr. Nimesh G. Desai from IHBHAS stated in The Times of India:
“In most disasters, people turn to a shared community to grieve and make sense of what happened. But in incidents like this blast, the victims are peripheral. They come from completely different backgrounds, with no single group that binds them, so there is no natural locus of support.”
In case of explosive and shocking tragedies it is crucial to keep children away from disturbing content on social media, as exposure to graphic images can trigger intense fear and anxiety. While social media is a useful source of timely information, it can also lead to a “digitally mediated trauma cascade,” where repeated exposure to violent visuals heightens acute stress responses and increases long-term vulnerability to trauma-related disorders.
The Red Fort Blast not only created fear among local residents but also deeply affected children and college students. Many students, after witnessing the intensity of the incident online, felt anxious about returning to college due to safety concerns. They highlighted fears related to crowded places, the closing of metro doors, and the overall sense of vulnerability amplified by graphic images circulating on social media.
Parents should keep children informed and reassure them about their safety, while also preventing them from viewing distressing content. Limiting such exposure helps reduce the fear of stepping outside their homes and prevents the development of persistent anxiety about their surroundings. For young adults and college students, peer support and verified information are essential, as rumours can further escalate fear and confusion.
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