Juarez Violence Takes Toll On Mental Health

by ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Celina Avila

EL PASO, Texas — There is rarely a day when we don’t report about the increasing brutality across the border.

From beheadings tobullet riddled bodiesto extortion schemes that turn deadly, it seems the cartels in Juarez know no limits.

Now an El Paso psychologist says the emotional stress of the violence is taking a heavy toll on both sides of the border.

Dr. Jaime Arbona says about20 percent of his clients are people who have been subjected to some form of violence from across the border and are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Threats made to their businesses, to their homes, relatives that have been abducted, witnessed kidnappings or shootings that happen in front of them.” Dr. Arbona says through therapy he’s treating many people from both sides of the border.

“An American citizen has a job in Juarez…he sees the violence escalating,” said Dr. Arbona.

He says they’ve been exposed to gruesome images, “mutilated bodies around the place where he works.”

And they have also experienced the unthinkable: “A car bumps him from behind, he stops his car and then he sees two people getting out of the car with guns in their hand and then he takes off in his car.”

Dr. Arbona says some people living in constant fear not only suffer from major anxiety attacks, “he feels like he has failed because he can no longer make himself go to work everyday to Juarez.”

But also a sense of hopelessness, “…so he decides to kill himself.”

Dr. Arbona explained that’s the extreme consequence of living under so much stress and fear.”Begging for your life, willing to do whatever they want to keep yourself safe. ”

He says victims of such trauma need to express their feelings, however difficultit may be.

“You feel embarrassed, ashamed and you get very angry and upset at yourself and then you might end up taking it out on some other people.”

Dr. Arbona adds that there are many more people who are not getting treatment suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and there are even more who are able to adapt to the violence.