Dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Psychological Sequelae of Bloody Sunday and the Responses of State Services

Author(s): Patrick Hayes and Jim Campbell
Document Type: Article
Year: 2000
Title of Publication: Research on Social Work Practice
Publisher: Sage
Place of Publication: London
Volume: 10: 6
Pages: 705-721
Subject Area(s): Health, Mental Health, NI Conflict
Client Group(s) : Victims

Abbreviations: NI - Northern Ireland, GHQ - General Health Questionnaire, PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

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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