STUDY SHOWS CHILDREN STILL TRAUMATISED BY BOMB
Study shows children still traumatised by bomb
THE impact of the Omagh bomb may have been much more wide spread than was first believed according to figures released this week. Thirty one people were killed in the blast on August 15th 1998 and several hundred others were physically wounded, including dozens maimed in the attack on the town by the so called 'Real-IRA'
Figures compiled by Dr Maura McDermott now suggest that in addition to the hundreds directly affected more than 2,000 children in Omagh suffered and may still be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The figures were released this week to a conference of psychiatrists in York and showed that those who registered the greatest disturbance were those who had the greatest exposure to the bomb.
Almost 2,200 children between the ages of eight and thirteen exhibited signs of post-traumatic stress fifteen months after the atrocity, another 128 primary school children suffered depression and 437 anxiety.
In a study of over two thousand three hundred teenagers aged between 13 and 20 16 per cent had post traumatic stress while 527 exhibited signs of a probable clinical disorder.
Girls suffered more than boys and younger children seemed to suffer most.
On receiving the findings Monica McWilliams of the Womens' Coalition and a member of the Assembly's Health Committee said the work dispels finding of past studies which suggested that the 'Troubles' had no significant effect on children.
She concluded saying that people affected by such things as the Omagh bomb need to be encouraged to avail of support services.
THE impact of the Omagh bomb may have been much more wide spread than was first believed according to figures released this week. Thirty one people were killed in the blast on August 15th 1998 and several hundred others were physically wounded, including dozens maimed in the attack on the town by the so called 'Real-IRA'
Figures compiled by Dr Maura McDermott now suggest that in addition to the hundreds directly affected more than 2,000 children in Omagh suffered and may still be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The figures were released this week to a conference of psychiatrists in York and showed that those who registered the greatest disturbance were those who had the greatest exposure to the bomb.
Almost 2,200 children between the ages of eight and thirteen exhibited signs of post-traumatic stress fifteen months after the atrocity, another 128 primary school children suffered depression and 437 anxiety.
In a study of over two thousand three hundred teenagers aged between 13 and 20 16 per cent had post traumatic stress while 527 exhibited signs of a probable clinical disorder.
Girls suffered more than boys and younger children seemed to suffer most.
On receiving the findings Monica McWilliams of the Womens' Coalition and a member of the Assembly's Health Committee said the work dispels finding of past studies which suggested that the 'Troubles' had no significant effect on children.
She concluded saying that people affected by such things as the Omagh bomb need to be encouraged to avail of support services.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0847
Published Date: 04-Oct-01
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