Caring Kiwis help kids through terror trauma
Quake studies offer advice for Manchester. By Kate Shuttleworth.
Young Kiwi rugby star Denny Solomona has spoken out after the Manchester terror attack, saying he refuses to be broken by the actions of an extremist just one year his junior.
The 23-year-old, who plays in the English rugby premiership, is helping youth affected by Monday’s attack at the Manchester Arena feel safe on the streets again by holding an outdoor boot camp to raise funds for victims.
His gesture comes as British police arrest a second family member of bomber Salman Abedi, 22. And yesterday, American singer Ariana Grande announced she would return to the city for a benefit concert, also to support victims.
Many of the 22 dead and 116 injured were children and teenagers; now New Zealand trauma experts say the survivors will suffer some of the same effects as those children who suffer ongoing natural disasters like the Canterbury earthquakes.
Clinical psychologist Maureen Mooney, who was awarded her PhD this week for her studies into the behaviour of 42 children and teenagers after the 2010/2011 earthquakes, says resilience can be built over time, given the right support.
Mooney worked for the International Red Cross offering psychological support to Iraqi refugees, to ambulance crews in Israel dealing with the aftermath of terrorist attacks, and to HIV-positive children in Cambodia and the Congo.
‘‘It wasn’t an easy situation for the children and young people in Christchurch. Manchester will not be an easy situation – it will take time and will be distressing.’’
In her research, Mooney concluded that children in Christchurch were more resilient than other children, faced with the usual challenges of growing up.
Solomona, who plays for the English Premiership side Sale Sharks, and based just 10km from the site of the blast, was at home in bed when this week’s terror attack hit the news.
Initially, his heart sank. Then he and his wife Jess Impiazzi leapt into action, posting an open-home invitation on social media. ‘‘We just did what thousands of people did that day.’’
They had an enormous response from young people wanting to talk. ‘‘The impact of this is massive – thousands of people will rethink going to events,’’ Solomona said..
‘‘I’ve grown up in a world that’s been troubled for a while – but there’s no point living life in fear. Love and compassion will end this, not fear and hate.’’
Those who survived are dealing with a direct experience of terrorism for the first time, and the psychological impacts.
Lisa Duggan, 44, was at the concert in Manchester with her
Love and compassion will end this, not fear and hate. Denny Solomona
13-year-old daughter Katie. She said the enormity of the attack was only just sinking in, and the impact on her and her daughter could only be fully known in time.
Duggan, who said she had still not slept, was worried about the lingering effects of the experience on her daughter.
Shanna Howden and her husband Geoff, from Christchurch, were flying to Manchester this weekend with their young sons.
Howden said she still had to tread carefully with her sons Sammy and Oliver, 11 and 8, who lived through the earthquakes.
‘‘Oliver still struggles ... he gets panicked in new situations’’.
She hadn’t broached the subject of terrorism with either of the boys.