People affected by Arena bombing to get extra support

FLASHBACKS, disrupted sleep and a fear of crowded places are just some of the things people affected by the Manchester Arena bombing could be experiencing.

A relative, a friend, a neighbour, or even a work colleague could be suffering in silence, unsure of where to turn.

That’s why a new, dedicated mental health support service has been launched for all those affected by the atrocity on May 22.

Children as young as eight will be able to access vital support from professionals trained in helping people who have experienced trauma.

The Manchester Resilience Hub, hosted by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, is aimed at adults, children and young people from across the country who have been directly affected by the bombing, which claimed the lives of 22 people and left up to 250 others injured.

Concert-goes, the families of those killed and injured and emergency responders are among those being offered help. Professionals will also be able to advise about what reactions are normal, and whether people would benefit from additional support.

Dr Alan Barrett, the consultant clinical psychologist and adult clinical lead for the hub, said: “The attack will have affected lots of people in some way or another, but most will find they recover naturally and don’t require any professional support.

“Reactions are likely to be strongest in those closest to the incident, who directly witnessed the aftermath and who were involved in the immediate care of those injured.”

Dr Barrett said many of those the team has come into contact with share similar characteristics.

“You would normally expect them to be experiencing things like disrupted sleep, flashbacks, being unable to stop thinking about what happened even when they try not to, feeling emotionally unsettled, slight changes in their behaviour, becoming more isolated and avoidant of certain places, and struggling to concentrate in their studies or at work,” he added.

“Potentially, if those issues are left alone then the person could deteriorate further.

“We know that if someone is avoiding things like concerts or crowded areas, and they don’t seek help and keep doing these things then it could generalise to other parts of their lives.

“They could become reclusive, and become scared to go out and about.

“Time is a healer, and many will manage on their own, but others may not.

“If someone is feeling distressed or they’re struggling to do the things they would normally do, or if people close to them are commenting they don’t seem quite right, these are the people who would benefit from the service.”

Most people will receive one-to-one support, with children also being given the option of family sessions.

The service has had a ‘soft launch’ and is currently dealing with urgent cases referred by agencies such as GMP or victim support.

A number for the Manchester Resilience Hub will be made public in the coming weeks, but until then anyone in need of help is asked to contact their GP, NHS 111 or local psychological therapies service.