11 July 2023
The specialist psychological support packages established following the Island's three major incidents are now being extended more widely to Islanders as part of the Government's ongoing recovery efforts.
The support packages were set up earlier this year and have so far been accessed on a targeted basis by those who were recognised as urgently requiring support.
The psychological support packages for adults have been set up with Health and Community Services' mental health services, who have been partnered with a range of psychological therapists and counsellors to provide specialist services that are specific to the major incidents. Psychological support specific to children and young people has been established through the Children and Families Hub.
Learning from similar tragedies in other places, the packages have been developed to support all individuals affected by the incidents, including those who worked on the responses. The offer includes psychological interventions and complex trauma support delivered by specialists with experience in disaster management.
Ministers who form the Political Oversight Group for the Major Incidents have agreed for the support packages to be in place for the next five years, following learnings from other places who have experienced similar major incidents.
As part of the overall health and wellbeing package, routine and enhanced health checks will be offered in the coming months on a targeted basis to Islanders affected by the major incidents.
The package also includes long-term health and wellbeing monitoring of individuals and the wider population to understand the ongoing impacts, which may be experienced over a period of years, to help identify additional or different services and support required.
Dedicated information about coping with traumatic events is available for adults and children, which will be distributed to Islanders this week.
Director of Public Health, Professor Peter Bradley, said: "In setting up the health and wellbeing support packages, we have learnt from tragedies in other places that both the psychological and physiological effects from major incidents can be experienced long after the event, and in different ways over time.
"Although many Islanders have incredible capacities for resilience, and places that have been devastated can find a way to recover, for some individuals, families, and communities this recovery journey can last many years and be very hard and painful. As such, the packages have been set up so that they can be accessed at any time over the next five years as not everyone will require support at the same time."
Deputy Chief Minister and Chair of the Political Oversight Group for the Major Incidents, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said: "In March, ministers agreed a health and wellbeing support package for Islanders following the tragic major incidents that our Island experienced in quick succession.
"Government has a responsibility to lead the recovery from these tragedies and providing a range of dedicated, appropriate, and easily accessible support to those directly impacted by the incidents, their families, the wider community, and responders is an essential element of the road to recovery.
"The psychological support packages have already been accessed by those identified as heavily impacted by the major incidents and I'm pleased we are now in the position to extend the offer more widely to Islanders."
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