Page Updated: 06-Sep-2007
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Support for victims of terrorist attacks and trauma: an Advanced Research Workshop

Related NIG: Share CSPC knowledge with SILK countries Key links Virtual Silk Highway

The NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on "Psychological/Sociological First Response in Individual and Community Level to Terrorism's and Disaster's Trauma" was held on 23-25 March 2007 in Istanbul, Turkey.

This workshop was the first stage in a larger two-year SPS project to set up local trauma prevention centres (LTPCs) and an internet portal for Virtual Silk Highway (also known as SILK) countries for use by psychologists and other professionals whose role it is to provide help and support to victims of terrorist attacks and trauma.

The workshop was attended by 40 professionals from ten countries. Two representatives from Afghanistan (which is also participating in this project) will receive one-on-one training at NATO HQ in Brussels in June.

During three days participants benefited shared experiences about the trauma counselling work they have been carrying out in their own and other countries.  For example, representatives from Armenia spoke about their work with earthquake victims, and the Israeli team members discussed their work with the families of victims of the hostage siege in Beslan, Ossetia.

The material, knowledge, methods and practices for the workshop were provided by experts from the Israeli Community Stress Prevention Centre (CSPC).  The CSPC specialises in stress treatment programmes and consultation for companies and communities wishing to become better equipped to deal with stress management in all aspects of life.  Its team of 11 staff members has been involved in training local professionals in many trauma situations, e.g. in the United States after September 11 attacks and in South-East Asia following the tsunami in 2004.

This workshop provided valuable insights into how to provide “security” in the sense of appropriate psychological response to a traumatic event.  The participants learned state-of-the-art methods on how to cope with the psycho-social impact of threats and traumatic events. 

The main themes that were addressed were:

• resiliency
• reactions to terror attacks
• what helps
• stress prevention through pre-planning
• BASIC Ph – model of how people survive stress situations

Other subjects addressed included cross-cultural issues in trauma, grief and coping, which given the diversity of the group led to very enlightening discussions.

The workshop also strengthened the cooperation between NATO, Partner countries and Israel, a Mediterranean Dialogue country.

An Advanced Study Institute (ASI), to be held in the summer of 2007 in Israel, will build on the achievements of this workshop.  Participants will learn in more detail how to train “mental first-aiders” in appropriate responses to traumatic events, as well as how to manage the electronic content of the trauma centres that will be set up.  After the ASI, another NATO-funded SPS project will be launched to develop e-material for the trauma response centres in each country.

The next steps include:

• utilisation of the outcomes of both the ARW, the ASI and specifications for the development of two e-learning units with content focused on coping with the effects of terrorism on the individual and the community; and first responders in disasters, crisis and trauma;
• development of a bilingual online content programme for dealing with the psychological and social implications of trauma as the result of terror/crisis/disaster (additional languages will be developed at a later stage);
• creation of an online step-by-step guide for psychologists and social workers on how to create support methods, how to operate and first-respond in disaster situations, and teach LTPC staff to treat the population;
• formation of an online forum to support psychological and social aspects of trauma implications – with content including articles, discussions about new methods and CSPC experiences;
• establishment of a bilingual online forum for first responders who offer psychological and social aid in cases of trauma, attack and disaster (the forum will make use of videoconferencing and the SILK telecom infrastructure).

All of the stages mentioned above will be supported by maintenance and modifications, and appropriate training will be given to staff of the LTPCs to enable them to make their own changes.

Upon the successful completion of this project, the SILK community will serve as providers of virtual support and advice to members in areas that have been affected by disasters.  The community will operate as a support network for areas otherwise disconnected from the necessary skills to help victims of terrorism and disasters cope with the consequences.

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