2002 Bali Bombing

604 Words3 Pages
A decade after the 2002 Bali Bombing a landmark study has found Australians directly affected by the terrorist attack had relatively good physical health but high rates of psychological distress with 20 percent of those in the study experiencing high levels of distress – twice the rate of the general population. The study by University of Western Sydney researchers and colleagues is one of the first in the world to examine the long term psychological impact of terrorism. The results are published today in the Medical Journal of Australia. Lead author and clinical psychologist, Garry Stevens from the University of Western Sydney’s School of Medicine says the ability to ‘make sense’ of a loved one’s death is considered a central process of grieving.…show more content…
However, those in the study that reported strong social connections did appear to be faring better. “Deaths involving deliberate violence are associated with higher incidence of depression and prolonged or ‘complicated’ grief and a slower rate of recovery. But our study found being in a married or de facto relationship and a perception of strong family support were key protective factors against long-term distress,” says Mr Stevens, a PhD candidate with the UWS Disaster Response and Resilience Research Group. The 2002 Bali Bombing killed over 200 people, including 88 Australians and 35 Indonesians. It remains the most deadly single act of terrorism to have affected either country. 209 people were physically injured, including 66 Australians. All 55 people who participated in the phone survey in late 2010 had experienced personal exposure and/or loss related to the attack and were part of the NSW Ministry of Health’s Bali Recovery Program - a therapeutic support
Open Document