STUDY TACKLES NEEDS OF TRAUMATISED YOUNGSTERS
STUDY TACKLES NEEDS OF TRAUMATISED YOUNGSTERS
Young people caught up in the Omagh bomb may be suffering trauma symptoms which go unrecognised, according to the town's healthcare provider.
The Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust is planning a study to look into the needs of the unusually high numbers of young people and children involved in the August 15 atrocity.
The trust has enlisted the help of Omagh's schools for the study, which will look at the long term impact of the tragedy on children aged eight to 18, although parents can choose to keep their children from taking part if they wish.
Mr David Bolton, director of community care with the Sperrin Lakeland Trust said the study would provide a picture of the needs of young people and their families.
"The Omagh bombing was different from many incidents associated with the Troubles in that a very large number of children and young people were directly or indirectly affected," he said.
Starting in late November, the study will take in participating schools in the Omagh District Council area. Young people between eight and 18 will be asked to complete a questionnaire in class.
Child psychiatrist for the Trust, Dr Maura McDermott, said it was likely many children had become traumatised after the bomb.
She said: "While many children and young people will recover early on, such distress can persist for a considerable period of time and interfere with a child or adolescent's emotional, educational and social development. Without treatment, distress and psychological difficulties last even longer.
"Experience of other tragedies shows that symptoms of trauma in children and adolescents often go unrecognised or under reported."
Dr McDermott said the reason was that children could be reluctant to ask for help, often to protect their parents from further distress, and parents who were traumatised were sometimes unable to recognise the symptoms in their children.
Confidential
Information will be kept confidential and the results will not identify particular children or schools. Parents will be notified beforehand and will be told what to do if they do not want their children to take part.
The study draws on the Centre for Child Care Research at Queen's University Belfast and Trinity College Dublin, and follows a similar piece of research earlier this year which looked at the response of adults in Omagh to the disaster.
The Omagh Locality Community Study encouraged many people to deal with the personal consequences of the Real IRA bombing, but until now, no-one has addressed the effect on the town's children.
Mr Michael Fitzgerald of Trinity College said it was common practice in the USA to examine the psychological effect on people who had been involved in a major tragedy.
He said: "This is a very important initiative. Following the Oklahoma bombing in America, the authorities conducted a similar study into the impact on young people and this proved invaluable in providing information about their needs and in the type of services that were offered to children and families."
Mr Joseph Martin, chief executive of the Western Education and Library Board said: "We need to find out how the tragedy that struck this community has affected our young people in this area, so that appropriate help can be given, both now and in the future."
Young people caught up in the Omagh bomb may be suffering trauma symptoms which go unrecognised, according to the town's healthcare provider.
The Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust is planning a study to look into the needs of the unusually high numbers of young people and children involved in the August 15 atrocity.
The trust has enlisted the help of Omagh's schools for the study, which will look at the long term impact of the tragedy on children aged eight to 18, although parents can choose to keep their children from taking part if they wish.
Mr David Bolton, director of community care with the Sperrin Lakeland Trust said the study would provide a picture of the needs of young people and their families.
"The Omagh bombing was different from many incidents associated with the Troubles in that a very large number of children and young people were directly or indirectly affected," he said.
Starting in late November, the study will take in participating schools in the Omagh District Council area. Young people between eight and 18 will be asked to complete a questionnaire in class.
Child psychiatrist for the Trust, Dr Maura McDermott, said it was likely many children had become traumatised after the bomb.
She said: "While many children and young people will recover early on, such distress can persist for a considerable period of time and interfere with a child or adolescent's emotional, educational and social development. Without treatment, distress and psychological difficulties last even longer.
"Experience of other tragedies shows that symptoms of trauma in children and adolescents often go unrecognised or under reported."
Dr McDermott said the reason was that children could be reluctant to ask for help, often to protect their parents from further distress, and parents who were traumatised were sometimes unable to recognise the symptoms in their children.
Confidential
Information will be kept confidential and the results will not identify particular children or schools. Parents will be notified beforehand and will be told what to do if they do not want their children to take part.
The study draws on the Centre for Child Care Research at Queen's University Belfast and Trinity College Dublin, and follows a similar piece of research earlier this year which looked at the response of adults in Omagh to the disaster.
The Omagh Locality Community Study encouraged many people to deal with the personal consequences of the Real IRA bombing, but until now, no-one has addressed the effect on the town's children.
Mr Michael Fitzgerald of Trinity College said it was common practice in the USA to examine the psychological effect on people who had been involved in a major tragedy.
He said: "This is a very important initiative. Following the Oklahoma bombing in America, the authorities conducted a similar study into the impact on young people and this proved invaluable in providing information about their needs and in the type of services that were offered to children and families."
Mr Joseph Martin, chief executive of the Western Education and Library Board said: "We need to find out how the tragedy that struck this community has affected our young people in this area, so that appropriate help can be given, both now and in the future."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1415
Published Date: 11-Nov-99
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