All the trauma can be brought back by simple firework
TODAY’S ANNIVERSARY will bring the devastation caused by the Manchester Arena attack to the national consciousness once more, but every day since it happened Victim Support has been on hand to help.
Some 126 people were supported across Yorkshire and the Humber, with about 70 per cent based in West Yorkshire.
Many made contact within the first fortnight after the attack, but others have only got in touch for the first time in recent weeks.
Ellen Miller, Victim Support’s North of England service director, said: “When you go through a traumatic experience, it’s burned into your subconscious. When you have something that triggers you, it resurfaces all that trauma.
“It could be loud bangs, so Bonfire Night, can be traumatic, or things like Christmas because many of the concert tickets were bought as presents.”
She said many people might struggle more tomorrow when remembrance events had taken place and people returned to their daily lives once more.
The charity supports almost one million people across England and Wales every year, meaning it has the capacity to respond in the wake of major events.
But it has found there are gaps in other provision such as swift access to NHS counselling, particularly for young people.
“Even if you’re the victim of a terror attack, you’re still in the queue,” Ms Miller said. “One thing we try to do is advocate on their behalf to try to get some support.”
Once contact is made, a victim is assigned a case worker and potentially introduced to volunteers who will also support them.
Those within the charity are well used to hearing about traumatic events, but supporting those affected by the arena attack had been tough nonetheless.
“I have members of staff who can basically map out where the different people they have been working with were in relation to the bomber,” Ms Miller said. “They have heard very graphic accounts and can themselves visualise it.
“What we’ve tried to through all of this is make sure that support is there for the team as well.”
She said she was very proud of all their work but had also been amazed by how resilient some of the young victims had been.
“I have been amazed at how positive and determined some of these young people are not to have their lives blighted by what happened to them,” she said. “We should all be very proud of them.”