Psychosocial Care Responses and Research After Terrorist Attacks

Abstract

Introduction:The risk internationally of terrorist attacks and other mass trauma incites societies to strengthen the planning and implementation of psychosocial care. Prior findings have documented that psychosocial care responses, especially long-term follow-up, differ substantially between countries. With the aim to strengthen future psychosocial care responses and research, this presentation describes the models for psychosocial care and research activities following terrorist attacks in European countries.Method:Pre- and post-attack policy documents and reports addressing the psychosocial care responses to terrorist attacks were identified, and research on the mental health of affected individuals and psychosocial care provision was reviewed.Results:Although several aspects of the acute psychosocial care responses to terrorist attacks were similar across countries, there were substantial differences as to if and how long-term follow-up interventions were planned and implemented. There were also major differences in whether or not monitoring of and research on the psychosocial care responses were conducted, and existing research had important limitations.Conclusion:In order to strengthen the public health responses to future terrorist attacks and other mass casualty incidents, there is need for more standardized registration of affected individuals, as well as international models for monitoring their health and longitudinal research on the countries’ psychosocial care provision. During the presentation, it will be discussed how monitoring and research can be improved in this context.