MGMIMass Gathering Medicine

← Library

AI-DRAFTED — PHYSICIAN REVIEW IN PROGRESSThe citation for this entry was checked against Crossref and PubMed, but its summary and interpretation were drafted by an AI model from the published abstract and have not yet been individually read by a physician. Read the linked source before relying on this operationally.
Paper ✓ verified

Longitudinal changes in the mental health of those affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena attack: 3-year follow-up of adults seeking support from the Resilience Hub[1]

Hussey L, Gittins M, Hedges A, Allsopp K, Puligundla N, Barrett A, Szafranski G, Chitsabesan P, French P · 2025 · Br J Psychiatry

Summary

Longitudinal analysis of adults registered with the Greater Manchester Resilience Hub after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, grouped into eight cohorts by time-to-registration and screened over 3 years for trauma, depression, anxiety, and work/social functioning. Baseline symptom scores rose the LONGER people took to register; all groups improved over 3 years; those registering earlier were less symptomatic at every point; and greater clinical contact time was associated with lower depression and anxiety scores. Concludes early and sustained engagement with post-incident psychological support is beneficial.

So what

The psychological-aftermath dimension of event terrorism, and the entry that makes the counter-terror shelf more than a trauma-surgery story: the medical footprint of a concert bombing extends years past the night, and the Resilience Hub model — a standing, proactively-outreaching support service — has outcome data showing early engagement pays off. For event planners and public-health authorities it argues that a deliberate-attack contingency plan must pre-designate a psychosocial-support pathway, not improvise one afterward. Complements the Barcelona (acute) and Raub (interagency) entries to give the shelf acute/organizational/recovery coverage.

Key findings

  • 3-year follow-up of adults at the Manchester Arena Resilience Hub, 8 registration cohorts
  • Later registration = higher baseline trauma/depression/anxiety scores
  • All groups improved over 3 years; earlier registrants less symptomatic throughout
  • More clinical contact time associated with lower depression/anxiety
  • Evidence for a pre-designated, proactive psychosocial-support pathway post-attack

Read the paper