TODDLERS' TRAUMA OVER BOMBING
Toddlers' trauma over bombing
Anguish is pointed out to Omagh team
By William Allen
DISTRESSED children as young as two are currently being treated for psychological trauma caused by the Omagh bomb, it emerged today.
Experts working with the youngsters - too young to communicate in words - are using art and games to help the children deal with their awful experiences.
And three members of the emergency services who helped in the horrific aftermath of the explosion are also being counselled to repair psychological damage.
A sizeable number of young people are still suffering great distress and a total of 92 of the 350 referrals to the Community Trauma Team are under the age of 18, Sperrin Lakeland Trust confirmed today.
However, it said the true extent of the problem is even higher as whole families are listed as a single referral, and another 443 people have sought help from voluntary groups, especially Victim Support.
And the Samaritans also recorded a 25% increase in calls over Christmas and the New Year.
The Community Trauma Team set up after the August atrocity, which killed 29 people, declined to comment on specific cases but confirmed that children as young as two are being treated for trauma. And the oldest referral is 72-years-old.
Sperrin Lakeland Trust said others affected by the bomb included people present at the scene when it exploded, people involved in the rescue, other witnesses who left the scene or ran away, those involved at hospitals, those who went to the leisure centre to find out if relatives or friends were dead, and friends, school pals or workmates of those who died.
Included among those referred to the Trauma Team were 123 who suffered serious or moderate injury, 95 by-standers, 18 witnesses/rescuers and 20 bereaved.
A Trust spokeswoman added: "Those referred to the Trauma Team are a mixture of bereaved, emotional and psychological trauma.
"Treatment for child referrals is non-verbal therapy, such as play and art."
The revelations came as it emerged that a new group representing victims of violence is to be launched in the town. The group, calling itself Voice, will be officially launched in the Silverbirch Hotel on Tuesday.
Spokesman Derek Reaney called on anyone who has suffered as a result of terrorism in the West Tyrone area to attend the launch.
Anguish is pointed out to Omagh team
By William Allen
DISTRESSED children as young as two are currently being treated for psychological trauma caused by the Omagh bomb, it emerged today.
Experts working with the youngsters - too young to communicate in words - are using art and games to help the children deal with their awful experiences.
And three members of the emergency services who helped in the horrific aftermath of the explosion are also being counselled to repair psychological damage.
A sizeable number of young people are still suffering great distress and a total of 92 of the 350 referrals to the Community Trauma Team are under the age of 18, Sperrin Lakeland Trust confirmed today.
However, it said the true extent of the problem is even higher as whole families are listed as a single referral, and another 443 people have sought help from voluntary groups, especially Victim Support.
And the Samaritans also recorded a 25% increase in calls over Christmas and the New Year.
The Community Trauma Team set up after the August atrocity, which killed 29 people, declined to comment on specific cases but confirmed that children as young as two are being treated for trauma. And the oldest referral is 72-years-old.
Sperrin Lakeland Trust said others affected by the bomb included people present at the scene when it exploded, people involved in the rescue, other witnesses who left the scene or ran away, those involved at hospitals, those who went to the leisure centre to find out if relatives or friends were dead, and friends, school pals or workmates of those who died.
Included among those referred to the Trauma Team were 123 who suffered serious or moderate injury, 95 by-standers, 18 witnesses/rescuers and 20 bereaved.
A Trust spokeswoman added: "Those referred to the Trauma Team are a mixture of bereaved, emotional and psychological trauma.
"Treatment for child referrals is non-verbal therapy, such as play and art."
The revelations came as it emerged that a new group representing victims of violence is to be launched in the town. The group, calling itself Voice, will be officially launched in the Silverbirch Hotel on Tuesday.
Spokesman Derek Reaney called on anyone who has suffered as a result of terrorism in the West Tyrone area to attend the launch.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0560
Published Date: 19-Feb-99
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