Psychological effects of 'Troubles' to be discussed

The results of a large scale survey examining the long-term psychological effects of the 'Troubles' will be revealed at a special conference in Armagh on Tuesday.

'The Legacy of the Troubles' survey found that a considerable proportion of the population experience significant mental health problems which they attribute directly to Northern Ireland's troubled past.

One in 10 reported post-traumatic symptoms that are suggestive of clinical Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It also found that PTSD was twice as common in Northern Ireland than in the border counties however one in 20 respondents from the border counties also displayed clinical symptoms suggestive of PTSD as a result of the Troubles.

The conference, which will be held at Armagh City Hotel, will feature a distinguished panel of guests including Lord John Alderdice, Human Rights Commissioner Lady Christine Eames, Joan Clements from the Community Relations Council, Des Poole from the Northern Ireland Association of Mental Health and Peace 2 programme director Pat Colgan, whose organisation funded the research.

Around 3000 people from Northern Ireland and the six border counties of the Irish Republic were surveyed in 2004 for the report.

Meanwhile, a leading psychology expert has said that people in Northern Ireland are less able to cope with trauma as the peace process has progressed.

Professor Ed Cairns, from the University of Ulster, told a conference on the July 7th bombings in London today, that people are generally psychologically tougher than might be expected when faced with traumatic events.

“Resilience is achieved through a combination of habituation, denial and distancing,” he said.

However, he also pointed out that since the decrease in violence in Northern Ireland, people living here have become less able to cope with trauma.

“Paradoxically, as the violence has diminished people appear to have become less resilient,” he said.

“This may be due to a number of factors including a change in culture, which has meant that trauma counselling has become more acceptable and the growth of the compensation culture.

“The greatest legacy of the Troubles is a society that is more divided than at any time before or during the actual conflict. From the Northern Ireland example societies caught up in a war against terrorism should therefore do all in their power to foster resilience amongst their citizens and take preventative measures to guard against widening divisions in society."

(MB/SP)