Londoners who have experienced major traumatic events now have access to new mental health resources, following a £4 million investment in the capital’s major trauma centres this year.
The new online resource provides practical guidance on coping with traumatic incidents, supporting children and loved ones, identifying mental health difficulties, and accessing free NHS treatments.
Launched this week by NHS London and West London NHS Trust, the website brings together trustworthy information that people can turn to during a crisis, in the days and weeks after, and as they begin to rebuild their lives.
On World Mental Health Day, as the global focus turns to ‘Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies’, these new resources are particularly relevant for London residents as the capital has faced several major incidents in recent years, affecting thousands of people.
Tragic events like the Grenfell fire, the Croydon tram accident, and terror attacks on Finsbury Park Mosque and Westminster Bridge, have left direct and accumulative damage for the bereaved, injured, professional responders and affected communities.
Studies show that between 30-40% of people who undergo major traumatic injury report serious, long-term psychological disorders such as PTSD or depression, a year or more after the event.
Despite evidence that psychological distress remains for at least three years post-incident, the London Major Trauma Psychology Network revealed that fewer than 10% of affected individuals receive any kind of help in the first year after the incident.
Dr Idit Albert, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at West London NHS Trust and Clinical Lead for the Pan London Major Trauma Psychology Network, London Violence Reduction Programme, NHS England, said: “Sadly, major incidents are a part of life in a big, global city like ours. Our emergency services and hospitals are always ready to respond, but over the past few years, we’ve also recognised the importance of helping people recover psychologically from these traumatic events.
“We’ve worked closely with NHS teams, emergency services, local councils, and community and faith groups to make sure that psychological recovery is part of the overall response. The website we’ve developed, with invaluable help from survivors from the Survivors Against Terror network, brings together practical, trustworthy information that people can turn to during a crisis, in the days and weeks after, and as they begin to rebuild.”
The resource comes as part of the London Major Trauma Psychology Network’s mission to support trauma survivors to understand what has happened to them and to rebuild their lives. It is designed to help Londoners feel informed, supported, and back in control.
Professor Kevin Fenton, Regional Director of Public Health, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities for London, said: “A major traumatic injury can have a huge impact on individuals and their wider communities, physically and emotionally. We are privileged to have a robust NHS emergency preparedness, resilience and response system in London that plans for and responds to a wide range of incidents and emergencies that could affect health or patient care.
“Previous work commissioned by NHS London in response to the London Bridge terror attacks brought about an 80-90% reliable improvement in PTSD symptoms, and 55%-60% reliable recovery. Patients also repeatedly confirmed high levels of satisfaction from the psychological active outreach service with requests for this to be offered early.
“I am confident that NHS London and West London NHS Trust’s new resources will have a significant impact on patients, their families, and staff – supporting them through some of the most difficult moments in their lives.”
