For many survivors of traumatic events, dealing with everyday life could take a toll on one's mental health. The Boston Public Health Commission has a division that helps these families deal with their trauma, with one of the members also serving as a pastor.
Neighborhood Trauma Team
In a report with CBS News, Tara Curry is part of the Neighborhood Trauma Team (NTT). The division consists of about 20 community organizations that help support individuals who experienced trauma.
Many of the individuals that Curry helps take care of are victims of violence in the community.
Curry is also a pastor in Dorchester, and she always said it is her calling to help people.
She explained that her service to others was her 'call for life.' Curry shared that there was something in her that she wanted to give to others.
The pastor told the news outlet that she wanted to tell God that she fulfilled her mission on earth when she met Him in heaven.
She admitted that ordinary human beings did not have control of crimes or the traumatic events that happened in the world. Curry encouraged the public to do their best to positively impact the world, despite the violence and indifference.
Awareness of PTSD
According to the report, the NTT said that they received 226 calls in 2020. The department explained that these numbers were alarming since they reflected a 95% increase from the 2019 reported numbers.
Another community member who is part of the NTT is Catia Mendez. She told the news outlet that she has lived in Dorchester for the past 30 years.
She has been part of the NTT for four years now.
Mendez shared that the team receives calls from community members who have been grieving their whole lives. She added that most were unaware that they were still dealing with grief.
She believed that most of the time, people needed to be aware of what was happening to them. Mendez added that most of them needed to be educated on what was happening to them.
Mendez admitted that a surprising number of people did not know what PTSD was.
She has also worked on crime scenes and has helped grieving families and community members deal with tragic losses.
More Calls in Summer
Another community member who is part of the NTT is Efrain Arras. He is the team's program director.
Arras told the news outlet that they usually receive one call a week on average.
He observed more calls over the summer months, with an average of two or three calls. Arras pointed out that it was during summer break that they were at their busiest.
Senseless Violence Needs to End
According to a report with Boston News 7, the NTT was recently deployed onsite following a shooting incident in Dorchester.
A 33-year-old man was shot dead during a daylight shooting.
The police reported to Norwell and Park Streets Monday, Aug. 1. The victim was found alongside several shell casings.
One woman told the news outlet that senseless violence needed to end.
The NTT was deployed onsite and handed out flyers to onlookers and community members, saying that they were there to offer counseling services to those who needed them.
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