Dealing with the effects of Terrorism

[john75]

Just been looking the NHS Direct all I could find that might help was this.

Introduction

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD), is a psychological condition caused by extremely frightening or distressing events.

PTSD can occur following the experience or witnessing of traumatic events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, serious accidents, violent deaths, and violent personal assaults including rape. Around 30% of people exposed to such a stressful event will develop PTSD.

PTSD can affect anyone. It is common and affects around 5% of men and 10% of women some time in their life. An individual with PTSD often relives the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, has problems with concentrating and sleeping, with feelings of isolation and detachment from life.

These symptoms can be lasting and severe enough to significantly impair the individual’s daily life.

Symptoms usually develop immediately or within three months of a traumatic event, although occasionally they do not begin until years later. PTSD can develop at any age, including in childhood. PTSD has been called ‘shell shock’ or ‘battle fatigue syndrome’, because it first came to prominence in the First World War with soldier’s memories of the trenches. It has only recently been recognised that traumatic events outside the war situation can have similar effects.

The term post-traumatic stress disorder was first used after the Vietnam War and formalized in 1980 with its inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders developed by the American Psychiatric Association.

Prevention

There is no current evidence that psychological debriefing is a useful treatment for the prevention of post traumatic stress disorder after traumatic incidents.


Support organisations

The information below has been added to the NHS Direct Health Encyclopaedia as part of a pilot project to make data used by NHS Direct call centres available to the public on our website. If you have any feedback relating to this pilot please contact us.

ASSIST (more...)
Service
Helpline: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm message out of hours. Drop in on Tuesdays 2pm-4pm.
ASSIST is a registered charity providing support to individuals and families affected by traumatic experiences, that prevents them going about their normal daily lives. The service offers telephone counselling and support, specialising in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Also provides training and information relating to trauma.
Who for: Anyone affected by a traumatic event.
Referral: Self.
Cost: No charge.
Premises have accessible entrance, toilet and parking.
There is a complaints procedure.


Address
http://www.traumatic-stress.freeserve.co.uk

Contacts
Helpline - Tel: [phone]



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Cruse Bereavement Care HQ (more...)
Service
Telephone: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.00pm
Cruse Bereavement Care offers free, confidential support, information and advice to anyone who has been bereaved by death. Cruse also offers publications for children, adults and professionals
The helpline provides support information on local services and literature. In addition Cruse arranges training courses for those who work either in a professional or lay capacity with bereaved people.
Cruse is also supporting those affected by bereavement or post traumatic stress following the Tsunami. Can provide details of local support.
Who for: Anyone.
Referral: Self.
Cost: Charge for some publications and training.
Information available in audio tape and in Welsh.
There is a complaints procedure.


Address
http://www.bereavementcare.org.uk

Contacts
General Number - Tel: [phone]
General Number - Fax: [phone]
Helpline - Fax: [phone]
Helpline - Tel: [phone]



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Disaster Action (more...)
Service
Telephone: Mon-Fri 9.00am-5.00pm (answerphone available)
Offers practical and emotional advice to those directly affected by trauma as a result of major trauma/disaster. All members are survivors and bereaved people from major disasters.
Who for: Bereaved and survivors form major disasters, police, local government responders to major emergencies.
Referral: Police, statutory services, self.
Cost: No charge.


Address
http://www.disasteraction.org.uk

Contacts
General Number - Fax: [phone]
General Number - Tel: [phone]



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Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society (more...)
Service
Telephone: Mon-Fri 8.00am-4.00pm
The Society specialises in the care of ex-Service personnel of all ranks who are affected by combat stress including mental illness, including post traumatic stress disorder, due to their Service career. Offers home and hospital visits from a network of Regional Welfare Officers, who can also assist with presentation of war pensions and appeals. The Society has three short stay treatment centres in Hollybush-by-Ayr Scotland, Newport Shropshire and Leatherhead Surrey. An information pack is available on request.
Who for: Ex Service personnel only.
Referral: Self, GP, family.
Cost: No charge.
Premises have accessible entrance and toilet.
There is a complaints procedure.


Address
http://www.combatstress.org.uk

Contacts
General Number - Fax: [phone]
General Number - Tel: [phone]
Helpline - Tel: [phone]



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Trauma Support Centre (more...)
Service
Helpline: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-2pm (answerphone available)
The Trauma Support Centre is a NHS Independent Provider.
The service is operated by a network of qualified counsellors trained in Trauma Support. Services include debriefing assessments, support counselling, post traumatic stress disorder support and groups. Clients can be visited in their own homes or attend counsellor's clinics. The Centre also offers in-house and public courses for the medical and allied professions, commerce and industry.
Who for: Members of the public, all age groups. Industry and professionals.
Referral: GP, PCT's, Social Services and health professionals. Clients can also self-refer for private treatment.
Cost: Charges on application.
There is a complaints procedure.

Address
http://www.trauma-support.org.uk

Contacts
Helpline - Tel: [phone]
Helpline - Fax: [phone]