Background
to the
Research
- Until recently, welfare
professionals in NI have been operating in a context of political,
paramilitary and state violence. Research is uncovering the human
cost of Troubles in terms of the impact on the civil population.
- On January 30th 1972, in
the city of Derry, during and after a rally to protest against internment
without trial, 13 unarmed civilians were shot dead by the British
Army (another man died later of his wounds).
- This article explores the
impact of Bloody Sunday on the families of those killed and examines
the response of health and social care services to this trauma.
Research
Approach
- The study took place in 1997 around the
25th anniversary of the event.
- A convenience sample of 26 participants
consisting of siblings or children of those killed on Bloody Sunday
was used (representing 12 of the 14 affected families).
- Participants completed a measure of PTSD
and the GHQ-12, prior to an in-depth interview.
Main
Findings
- The participants ranged in age from 31
to 56 years and included 12 men and 14 women. All but 2 were siblings
of the person killed, the other 2 were children of the deceased.
- At the time of Bloody Sunday, 46% (12)
of the siblings or children were younger than 20 years, 6 ranged in
age from 15 to 19 years, and 3 were aged between 10 and 14 years,
3 between the ages of 5 and 9. Of the 2 children whose parents were
killed, one was aged 16 and the other was aged 6.
- Ten participants were present at the march,
but none observed the killing, although all but 2 witnessed violence
and saw dead bodies on the streets.
- The results from the study indicate high
levels of psychological trauma in families who lost relatives on Bloody
Sunday. The findings suggest that PTSD is present in this population
and that it is related to the violent events of that day.
- There is a high correlation between PTSD
scores and GHQ-12 scores, strongly suggesting that a relationship
exists between the general emotional health of this group and PTSD
resulting from the Bloody Sunday trauma.
- Persistent symptomatology is still present
after 25 years with intrusions and hyperarousal culminating in events
such as distressing memories, evocative smells and images, poor sleep,
avoidance of places that might evoke memories.
- Survivor guilt, not manifested by high
scores in the PTSD survey, was more apparent in the interviews.
- Most participants, adopting an antiviolent,
apolitical philosophy, chose not to discuss Bloody Sunday with their
own children because they did not want them to become bitter or seek
revenge through paramilitary activity. Many had not told their account
of Bloody Sunday before the present study.
- Participants relied on family and neighbours
for support at the time of Bloody Sunday and many articulated distrust
of social service professionals. Social service workers were viewed
as part of the state which was not trusted. At present families felt
that services could be best provided by local community groups headed
by trained leaders from their cultural background with state funding
and consultation.
- Welfare professionals in the 1970s were
not trained to deal with the unique trauma of political violence and
response at this time was hesitant and slow.
- A number of interventions may help in
the resolution of the trauma still being experienced by the families
of those killed on bloody Sunday. The families are waiting for the
result of a new judicial inquiry.
- The acknowledgment by the state and welfare
agencies that deficits exist in services and their willingness to
make changes in organisation and practice will provide survivors of
violent conflict in NI the help that so many have been denied in the
past.
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