Nearly 90 percent of New York City schoolchildren were suffering at least one symptom of post-traumatic stress six months after Sept. 11, and nearly 10 percent likely had the disorder, according to a study released Wednesday.
In the 1.1 million student public school system, an estimated 75,000 children likely showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress, enough to be diagnosed with the disorder, according to the Board of Education study.
Mental health researchers participating in the report, which studied more than 8,000 children at 94 schools, were particularly surprised to find that children throughout the city showed symptoms of several psychiatric problems.
Researchers said the study was groundbreaking in its comprehensive examination of children’s response to a disaster.
Schools Chancellor Harold Levy, who called the report a wake-up call, said he is sending the data to district superintendents so teachers are aware of the prevalence of aftershocks.
