Monitor on Psychology - April 2012 - (Page 42)

Mullins. “I’m a quiet person. I’m not big on talking. But Dr. Blair has helped me a great deal.” Blair has, for example, provided grief counseling, encouraging Mullins to visit Larry’s grave and talk to him to help work through his loss. He’s also worked with Mullins on pain-management techniques and other strategies to help him deal with his daily chronic back pain. But if it weren’t for his wife’s insurance, Mullins would no longer be able to see Blair. Following the lead of many other states, West Virginia recently privatized its workers’ compensation program. Only North Dakota, Ohio, Washington and Wyoming still have state-run programs. In 2006, West Virginia partially transferred its program to BrickStreet Insurance, a private insurer, because it was running out of funds. The program went fully private in 2008. The result, say Blair and other psychologists in the state, is a demise of psychological and other rehabilitation services for miners. Privatizing the program may have saved the state money, but its disability rates have skyrocketed, rising more than 34 percent since 2002, according to the Social Security Administration. There is no way to prove a connection between privatization and increasing disability rates; the Social Security Administration attributes the high numbers to workplace injuries, unhealthy lifestyles and a lack of jobs. But the fact remains that no other state has more workingage adults receiving Social Security benefits. These days, most miners go straight onto disability pay, without any chance of physical or psychological rehabilitation. ‘Culture of fatalism’ Part of the tragedy here, says Blair, is that miners are particularly prone to experiencing and witnessing injury and death, and thus psychological distress. Yet culturally, they are less likely than the average citizen to seek psychological help. “These are men who make sure to say, ‘I love you,’ to their spouses before they leave each morning because they might never see them again,” he says. Many are descended from generations of miners and have lost relatives and friends in the mines. Like Mullins, they’ve often seen buddies hurt right next to them, and have been hurt themselves. Many keep doing the job, though, because they don’t see any other choice, Blair says. Often they have a high school education or less, and in rural West Virginia, jobs are scarce. Plus, the coal-mining pay is good — $80,000, sometimes up to $100,000 a year. Compare that with the pay at Wal-Mart, a fifth of that at best, and factor in that mining is a family tradition, and the choice begins to make sense. For some, there is also a thrill to descending deep below the earth’s surface and facing danger, says Blair. Some enjoy the camaraderie of being with their buddies, and the selfworth that comes with an ability to provide well for their Psychologist Dr. David Blair says part of the tragedy for coal miners is that they are particularly prone to experiencing and witnessing injury and death, and thus psychological distress. Yet culturally, they are less likely than the average citizen to seek psychological help. families. However, the constant danger can alter their sense of reality, almost erasing a sense of future. “In the winter, they go into the mines when it’s dark and they come out when it’s dark,” says Blair. “The hours are long, and picking up a sixpack on the way home is a typical way to relax and forget the danger and fear.” After an injury, drinking and drugs are also a way to numb the pain, he adds. Oxycontin abuse has ravaged the southwestern part of the state, where mining is most prevalent. Some cities in the southern coalfields are being called “drug cities,” says Blair. 42 MONITOR ON PSYCHOLOGY • APRIL 2012 Tyler Evert

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - April 2012

Monitor on Psychology - April 2010
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Internship Shortage Continues
Mental Health Services Remain Scarce at Community Colleges
Apa Weighs in on the Constitutionality of Life Without Parole for Juvenile Offenders
Apa Praises Court’s Support for Equality
New Mobile App Answers Psychologists’ Clinical Questions
Nih Offers Free Web Resources for Psychologist Researchers
New and Improved Psyclink
In Brief
Government Relations Update
Time Capsule
Questionnaire
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Early Career Psychology
Psychologist Profile
Coal Miners’ Dilemma
The Science of Political Advertising
Science Watch
Science Directions
More Support Needed for Trauma Interventions
The Case Against Spanking
Innovative Psychology at the High School Level
Speaking of Education
Apa Divisions Reach Out to New Psychologists
New Journal Editors
A Home Base for Multiple Fields
Division Spotlight
American Psychological Foundation
Awards and Funding Opportunities
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - April 2012