Two groundbreaking studies have revealed that individuals affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack experienced significant improvements in mental health when they engaged early with dedicated support services. These findings, published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, underscore the importance of timely mental health interventions following traumatic events.
Conducted by researchers from The University of Manchester, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM), and the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), the studies focused on adults and young people who accessed the Greater Manchester Resilience Hub. This hub was established to coordinate psychological support in the aftermath of the attack, which occurred on May 22, 2017, resulting in the deaths of 22 people and affecting approximately 19,500 attendees, including concert-goers and emergency responders.
Adult Study: Timely Help Linked to Reduced Mental Distress
The first study examined data from 2,627 adults who registered with the Resilience Hub over three years following the attack. Researchers assessed symptoms of trauma, depression, anxiety, and social or work functioning. Participants were categorized based on their registration time—from three months to over three years post-attack—and monitored over time.
Results indicated that those who sought help earlier exhibited fewer symptoms upon initial contact with the Hub. Conversely, individuals who delayed registration showed higher levels of distress, depression, and anxiety. Despite this, all groups demonstrated mental health improvements over time, with later registrants improving at a slightly accelerated pace once they engaged with support services.
“Individuals who had more contact time with Hub staff, through assessments, therapy sessions, or group workshops, tended to experience greater reductions in depression and anxiety scores,” the study noted.
The research concluded that early and sustained engagement with mental health support services is beneficial after traumatic events. Even those who delayed seeking help showed improvement once they accessed care.
Dr. Louise Hussey, lead author and Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, emphasized the significance of these findings:
“These papers explore how the Resilience Hub supported people affected by the 2017 traumatic event. They add to existing evidence showing the benefits of providing timely mental health support after major incidents.”
Impact on Children and Adolescents
A companion study titled “Has mental health changed in children and adolescents registered with a dedicated support service responding to the Manchester Arena attack: 3-year follow-up,” investigated similar data from younger Hub registrants. It analyzed how symptoms evolved over time among children and adolescents affected directly or indirectly by the attack.
Researchers discovered that parental wellbeing significantly influenced the mental distress levels reported by children. Parents or guardians experiencing higher distress levels tended to assign higher anxiety scores to their children compared to the children’s self-reported scores. This finding highlights the necessity of considering shared family trauma in care planning.
Wider Lessons and Future Implications
Together, these studies offer a comprehensive view of the psychological impact of the Manchester Arena attack and the enduring value of proactive, coordinated mental health support. The authors stress the importance of early outreach and accessible psychological services following mass trauma events.
“We recommend that future emergency response planning should include systems for early identification, regular follow-up, and data collection to support ongoing evaluation,” the studies concluded.
The research not only informs future service planning but also aims to improve outcomes for those affected by similar events. As communities continue to grapple with the aftermath of traumatic incidents, these findings provide a crucial roadmap for enhancing mental health support systems and ensuring timely interventions.
