IMPROVING SERVICES FOR VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES Katarina Blatnik Katarina Blatnik Safe Journey Institute Safe Journey Institute

Slovenia and road safety deaths and injured due to traffic related accidents since 1991 (only 2 mil. inhabitants)6.000 deaths and injured due to traffic related accidents since 1991 (only 2 mil. inhabitants) Tolerance toward speed, alcohol, braking rulesTolerance toward speed, alcohol, braking rules Using safety belts, child safety seats, helmets… still a problemUsing safety belts, child safety seats, helmets… still a problem Victims of traffic accidents are a taboo topicVictims of traffic accidents are a taboo topic Discrimination of victims in local environment – tolerance toward persons responsible for an accidentDiscrimination of victims in local environment – tolerance toward persons responsible for an accident Help providing only to people who have serious and complex injuries (major physical trauma)Help providing only to people who have serious and complex injuries (major physical trauma) 10 years lasting legal proceedings (person responsible for an accident is often not punished)10 years lasting legal proceedings (person responsible for an accident is often not punished) There are two organizations (Poravnava, Odškodnina), who offer victims minimal monetary compensation and take more than 50%There are two organizations (Poravnava, Odškodnina), who offer victims minimal monetary compensation and take more than 50%

Drawing attention to the problem World day of remembrance for road traffic victims (for the first time in Slovenia, victims of traffic related accidents have publicly spoken about their suffering, struggles…)World day of remembrance for road traffic victims (for the first time in Slovenia, victims of traffic related accidents have publicly spoken about their suffering, struggles…) Educational workshops for young people 5x STOP is COOL (young victims represent their stories to young people in primary and high schools)Educational workshops for young people 5x STOP is COOL (young victims represent their stories to young people in primary and high schools) Media support (stories of victims represented in TV news and programmes, on internet sites of different journals ( visitors in one day)Media support (stories of victims represented in TV news and programmes, on internet sites of different journals ( visitors in one day)

Programmes of Safe Journey Institute Individual support for victims and their families, families who lost a memberIndividual support for victims and their families, families who lost a member Group therapy for victims and their families, families who lost a memberGroup therapy for victims and their families, families who lost a member Working with victims on prevention programmes (5x STOP is COOL)Working with victims on prevention programmes (5x STOP is COOL) Legal support (two major law offices offered free legal support to our members – victims and families)Legal support (two major law offices offered free legal support to our members – victims and families) Other types of counselling (road safety, health related topics…)Other types of counselling (road safety, health related topics…)

Problems Psychological support has a negative connotation (only crazy people need help)Psychological support has a negative connotation (only crazy people need help) Because we are a young organization (2 years of existing and working) our programmes are not publicly known – difficulties reaching victims of traffic accidentsBecause we are a young organization (2 years of existing and working) our programmes are not publicly known – difficulties reaching victims of traffic accidents The programme is not financially and otherwise supported by government organizationsThe programme is not financially and otherwise supported by government organizations Limited promotion of the programmes because of the lack of financesLimited promotion of the programmes because of the lack of finances

Achievements We have opened the “Pandora’s box” and made the problems of victims of traffic accidents publicly known (WDR, 5x STOP is COOL, media support)We have opened the “Pandora’s box” and made the problems of victims of traffic accidents publicly known (WDR, 5x STOP is COOL, media support) In a 2 years time we have helped a lot of victims through legal, psychosocial and other support (56 persons are included in psychosocial individual support programme)In a 2 years time we have helped a lot of victims through legal, psychosocial and other support (56 persons are included in psychosocial individual support programme) Cooperation with other NGO’sCooperation with other NGO’s Support by the Ministry of Health for prevention programmes and WDRSupport by the Ministry of Health for prevention programmes and WDR

Objectives of improving psychological care Drawing people's attention to the invisible psychological scars that accidents often create - WDR, 5x STOP is COOL (story of victim) Giving greater visibility to psychological support programmes, so that people have a better knowledge of these programmes and their roles Assembling the lessons learned from the different programmes (good practises) Making recommendations so that guidelines for implementing psychological support can be produced in the near future.