Terror and disasters impacting young people Siri Thoresen ISTSS/ESTSS conference, 23 September 2013
The bombing at the Governmental Quarter The shooting at Utøya Island 22. July
This is our country
Most young people facing trauma: Interpersonal violence, accidents, sexual abuse, traumatic loss, violent crime… and more
So why focus on terror and disasters?
First response to trauma: Evidence-informed strategies (some examples) Intervention principles 1) a sense of safety, 2) calming, 3) a sense of self– and community efficacy, 4) connectedness, and 5) hope. (Hobfoll et al, 2007) Psychological First Aid (National Child Traumatic Stress Network and National Center for PTSD, Brymer et al, 2006) Skills for Psychological Recovery (Berkowitz et al, 2010) European consensus report (TENTS; Bisson et al, 2010) NICE guidelines (British National Institute for Clinical Excellence, 2005)
First response to trauma: Evidence-informed strategies The challenge is: A need for more evidence, but also – making use of existing knowledge?
Mass trauma: Some additional challenges (examples) Public events Media attention Organizing nationwide interventions
Where were you when you found out about 22. July?
Reactions in the Norwegian population: juli Percent reporting «quite a bit» or «extremely» % Approximately 50% cried that weekend Thoresen, Aakvaag, Wentzel-Larsen, Dyb & Hjemdal, 2012
% ** p < ** Reactions in the Norwegian population: Young people Percent reporting «quite a bit» or «extremely»
Mass trauma: Some additional challenges (examples) Public events Media attention Organizing nationwide interventions
Media experiences in Utøya survivors Figure in prep deleted
Mass trauma: Some additional challenges (examples) Public events Media attention Organizing nationwide interventions
Treating traumatized individuals -Evidence-based treatment strategies The challenge is: Making use of existing evidence-based treatements?
Bonanno, 2004 Who do well and who do not so well?
Utøya: Changes from T1 til T2 : Anxiety/depression Figure in prep deleted
Perceived social support - One of the most important predictor of health development following trauma (Brewin et al, 2000; Ozer et al, 2003) -Negative social support /feeling let-down maybe even more important (Brewin and Holmes, 2003) Figure in prep deleted
Oklahoma City bombing 9/11 An international research community The Kauhajoki school shootings The London bombings Utøya
Thank you for your attention!