Workshop: Terrorist attacks and aftercare

In recent years several European countries have been confronted with terrorist attacks. Since the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, there has been a growing evidence of trauma-research showing that survivors and witnesses of such attacks not only are affected physically, often with serous injuries, but also often experience severe mental health problems, such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety, which can take months or years to fade away. Moreover, such impact not only affect directly involved, but also indirectly involved persons (e.g. relatives of victims) and even the broader population. Terrorism has become a public health issue, challenging researchers to profoundly study determinants of terrorism as well as the ways of how to organise and install adequate preparedness before and proper responses and effective healthcare for populations in need after an attack. Until now, aftercare for people directly or indirectly affected by terrorist attacks and for the broader population gets rather little scientific attention. How did the health care services respond to such attacks? How should they respond and why? Were these services adequately prepared? Have survivors sought out help themselves? While there is an increasing body of knowledge on the association between a terrorist attack and PTSD, depression or other mental health problems, there is little known on the psychological aid that was given, and to whom this was given. In this workshop, research findings on aftercare after terrorism will be presented and discussed. Four researchers from three different European countries confronted with terrorist attacks in recent years (France, Belgium and Norway) will present their findings. Dr. Cécile Vuillermoz will present data on the immediate and long-term aftercare for civilians following the attacks on Charlie Hebdo in January 2015 in France, while Dr. Stephanie Vandentorren will present data on the psychosocial aid provided to directly exposed, witnesses and relatives after these attacks. Drs. Roel Van Overmeire will focus on the psychosocial aid offered to rescue workers shortly after the attacks in Belgium, and the months and years after. Finally, Dr. Lise Eilin Stene will give a presentation on current problems of healthcare in Europe in reaching those inflicted by terrorism and other traumatic events, while pointing to solutions and challenges for the future. Key messages More research is necessary to find adequate ways of reaching vulnerable people in need of psychosocial aid after terrorist attacks. More scientific insight is needed in the mental health impact of and the proper psychosocial aid response after large-scale traumatic events, in the direct aftermath as well as in the long term.