Victims of the Gulf Oil Spill & Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: How Can One Cope in Such Dire Need?

Depression, anxiety, fear and desperation have gripped Gulf families victimized by the BP oil spill. Residents phoning the BP decontamination clean up site with thoughts of suicidal ideation, have occurred daily according to Mike Brewer, project manager of the site. Fishermen and residents of the area live in a continuous state of insecurity. If simple resources like food and security are unmet, how will residents tackle the major issues like anxiety and depression?

Gulf residents are experiencing intense psychological distress. Their livelihood, means of income and social support structures are completely compromised. Victims of the spill report levels of increasing stress and anxiety which will have a direct impact on their physical health as well.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is addressing the necessity of psychological support for Gulf residents. They have since posted an informational page on their website with a list of symptoms and respective services available for those who are suffering. The BP gulf oil spill follows the tragic Hurricane Katrina by merely five years. Gulf residents, who were still struggling to recuperate from the 2005 atrocity, have been thwarted by the forces of nature yet again. Families, small business and the economy of the area is still in a fragile recovery mode from the 2005 Hurricane Katrina. People were still coping with the displacement and loss incurred by the atrocity of Hurricane Katrina.

Abraham Maslow. The Gulf crisis, as understood through the lexicon of Maslow’s hierarchy presents a bleak outlook on the state of Gulf residents. The pyramid-like structure of Maslow’s hierarchy illustrates various levels of human need with one building upon the other as each level is reached. The base of the structure is food and water and continues upward to include things like security in family, relationships, profession etc.

Applied to the population affected by the Gulf Spill, these individuals lack even the most basic human needs such as food, if fishermen are unable to provide for their families, and security in their profession. The psychological resilience and innovative coping mechanisms available to these individuals are limited. Instead of developing creative strategies to self actualize at the apex of the Maslow’s pyramid these families are focused on more fundamental deficiencies. With this in mind, Gulf victims are  prone to develop maladaptive coping mechanisms to stress including excessive abuse of drugs and alcohol and suicidality which have already been reported.

Fishermen, their families and natives of the Gulf area need short and long term mental health treatment. This includes individual and group therapy, psychopharmacological treatment and other community services that will address the various levels of trauma, grief and potentially PTSD.