Emotional Challenges and Support

Most of this website is devoted to the practical matters of choosing what materials to save and how to ensure they are cared for and last as long as possible. The purpose is to help you preserve the memories you want to save, commemorate the events of 9/11, honor the victims of the disaster, and help you—and others in your community and the nation—bring closure to this devastating event.

But this process may be deeply connected with painful memories and issues that are still unresolved and difficult to face. For many people, the effects of a tragedy such as 9/11 can be deep and long-lasting, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression. There may be tensions or disagreements within the family about what and how much to keep. Or you may just feel overwhelmed and stuck, not knowing what to do.

If you or your family or friends are finding the prospect of these choices very difficult to face, or if you have begun the process and are feeling overwhelmed, you can be sure of this:

• You are not alone.
• There are resources available to help you. 

It may be that counseling or other mental health services could help prepare you for and support you during the project of deciding what to keep and what to discard.

The 9/11-related websites listed below offer resources that may be helpful to you. You may also be aware of resources in your own community—counselors, mental health professionals, spiritual/religious leaders, or others. We encourage you to seek whatever help you need to support your meeting the challenges of this process.

Resources

Where to Turn – Counseling Services
Where to Turn’s purpose is to provide crisis relief services for victims of any kind of tragedy by aiding them in obtaining the help they need during the recovery process. This link takes you directly to a list of counseling resources in the 9/11 section of the site.

Families of September 11 – Wellness Resources
The organization’s mission is to raise awarness about the effects of terrorism and public trauma and to champion domestic and international policies that prevent, protect against, and respond to terrorist acts.  This link takes you directly to their Support Resources – Wellness page, which lists websites and organizations that you might find helpful.