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Terror attack victims let down by mental health support

A new study has revealed that victims of terror attacks are waiting up to 14 months for their trauma to be treated by NHS mental health services. A nationwide poll of attack survivors, undertaken by Survivors Against Terror, reveals that 76 per cent of the 271 survivors questioned believe the mental health system needs improvement, with three-quarters of the number feeling the improvement needed was dramatic. The families are to hand the report and an open letter to Downing Street, raising concerns over the ‘shocking’ stories becoming ‘increasingly like the norm’. Such stories included survivors forced to pay for their own treatment, children denied help ending up harming themselves and long waiting lists for people who urgently need support. Charlotte Dixon Sutcliffe, chair of Survivors Against Terror, said: “Governments promise survivors they will be looked after but this survey shows that when it comes to mental health services they are being routinely let down.” The survey also showed that other services were rated as good, very good or exceptional by 80 per cent of respondents. This included NHS hospital care, paramedic care and police support, highlighting a stark contrast in the crisis in mental health services and other response services.

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