‘There needs to be more support for terror attack victims’
In the wake of the devastating Easter atrocities in Sri Lanka that left hundreds killed and injured, there are calls for help to stop survivors from suffering alone ON EASTER SUNDAY, eight explosions rocked Sri Lanka. As Grazia went to press, the death toll stood at 253 – with eight UK nationals among the dead – and more than 500 people injured. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which targeted churches as well as hotels, while Sri Lanka has admitted a ‘major lapse in the sharing of intelligence information’ before the bombings.
But as the investigation continued, a survivors’ group was warning that more needs to be done for the victims. The campaign group Survivors Against Terror (SAT) has called for an inquiry into how victims of terrorist attacks are treated, after those involved in previous attacks have been forced to wait months for mental health support and years for compensation. According to a new report from SAT, which asked survivors about their experiences, almost half (46%) of those caught up in foreign terror attacks said support from the UK Government was poor.
‘From older attacks like Bali, to more recent ones like Tunisia, the Foreign Office has simply failed to provide the support the public would expect, and that survivors deserve,’ says Jo Berry, a board member of SAT, who lost her father, Anthony, in the 1984 Brighton IRA bombing. ‘We have heard consistent reports of unprofessional treatment, lack of capacity and even families being told their loved ones had survived when they hadn’t. It’s critical the Foreign Office listens and overhauls their approach to mass incidents affecting British citizens overseas.’
In response, a Foreign Office spokesperson told Grazia, ‘Foreign Office staff and specialist police family liaison officers are supporting the families of the victims [of the Sri Lanka bombings]. A team of specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism
Command are being deployed to Sri Lanka to provide support to the families and will assist with the repatriation of loved ones to the UK and any subsequent inquests.’
However, victims report that even in the case of domestic attacks, they can struggle to obtain support with their recovery. Sajda Mughal, 36, from North London, was in the next Tube carriage to one of the bombers behind the 7/7 attacks on London in 2005, in which 52 people lost their lives. ‘The police questioned me about what happened but nobody offered me any counselling – I had to pay to have it privately for two years,’ she says. ‘I was lucky to have a lot of family help, but afterwards I had flashbacks and I still find it difficult to travel on the Tube.
‘We need a structured support system for survivors of terrorist attacks that is ongoing and doesn’t stop after a few months. These things don’t just go away. Any terror attacks now really trigger me. When Manchester happened [the suicide bomb attack at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017 that killed 22], it brought back memories. I can’t read about Sri Lanka because I relive the situation and feel the survivors’ pain.’
Rachel Almeida, from the charity Victim Support, confirms that there are often issues with people accessing the help they need after terror attacks. ‘We see witnesses who aren’t getting referred as they should be, and there are also gaps in mental health service provision, which can lead to huge waiting times,’ she says. ‘It can take years through the compensation scheme to get access to funds, and a lot of people can’t work because of the psychological and physical effects.’
Dr Idit Albert, a consultant clinical psychologist from the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT) at King’s College London, leads a specialist outreach service for British residents affected by terrorist attacks. ‘In the immediate aftermath of an attack, it’s important people regain a sense of safety,’ she says. ‘It’s common to feel guilt or shame for surviving, as well as distress, which can manifest in different ways – fear, numbness, trouble sleeping.
‘A majority of people will find these symptoms reduce within 4-6 weeks, but 30% of people affected by terrorist attacks will go on to experience mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression or PTSD. That’s why it’s important to monitor people for delayed symptoms and ensure there’s support in place for anniversaries, inquests and when similar incidents take place, as these can all be triggering.’
Last week, mourners attended the funeral of Lyra Mckee, the 29-year-old journalist shot dead while observing rioting in Londonderry, with paramilitary group the New IRA claiming responsibilty for her death. She herself had written movingly about the lasting impact of terror in an article on suicide in Northern Ireland, which suffers from the highest rates in the UK. She described being one of the ‘Ceasefire Babies’ growing up in the aftermath of The Troubles, noting that University of Ulster researchers have found a direct link between suicidal behaviour and having experienced a traumatic event, including those related to conflict.
Even if you’ve not been directly affected by a terror attack, in the immediate aftermath it’s possible to experience symptoms similar to those of PTSD in what’s known as ‘collective trauma’ – which can be exacerbated by the way we respond, researchers suggest. A study found that people who had six or more daily hours of exposure to media coverage of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings in the week afterwards were more likely to show symptoms of acute stress than those who had actually been at or near the marathon.
However, although it may feel as if terror attacks are on the increase, researchers say that these threats tend to happen in waves. ‘The number of attacks have increased from 2002 to 2017, but the numbers are down from a spike in 2014,’ says Gary Lafree, founding director of the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START).
‘It is normal to feel a bit more anxious and vulnerable when we hear about terror attacks,’ says Dr Idit Albert. ‘But if feelings don’t subside after a few weeks, look at the NHS website to find out how to manage anxiety, or seek professional help.’