Mental wellbeing advice

Following the Manchester Arena Incident

This guidance is aimed at anyone exposed to the incident at Manchester Arena that took place on 22 May 2017. The emotional effects will be felt by survivors, bereaved families, friends, emergency services, health care workers and the general public. If you witnessed or lost someone in the attack you will most certainly have a strong reaction. Reactions are likely to be strongest in those closest to the incident, who directly witnessed the aftermath and who were involved in the immediate care of victims.

Common reactions to traumatic events

The following responses are normal and to be expected in the first few weeks:

  • Emotional reactions such as feeling afraid, sad, horrified, helpless, overwhelmed, angry, confused, numb or disorientated
  • Distressing thoughts and images that just pop into your head
  • Nightmares
  • Disturbed sleep or insomnia
  • Feeling anxious
  • Low mood

These responses are a normal part of recovery and are the mind’s mechanisms of trying to make sense and come to terms with what happened. They should subside over time.

What can people do to cope?

  • The most helpful way of coping with an event like this is to be with people you feel close to and normally spend time with.
  • If it helps, talk to someone you feel comfortable with (friends, family, co-workers) about how you are feeling.
  • Talk at your own pace and as much as you feel it’s useful.
  • Be willing to listen to others who may need to talk about how they feel.
  • Take time to grieve and cry if you need to. Letting feelings out is helpful in the long run.
  • Ask for emotional and practical support from friends, family members, your community or religious centre.
  • Try to return to everyday routines and habits. They can be comforting and help you feel less out of sorts. Look after yourself: eat and sleep well, exercise and relax.
  • Try to spend some time doing something that feels good and that you enjoy.
  • Be understanding about yourself.

How can children be helped to cope?

  • Let them know that you understand their feelings.
  • Give them the opportunity to talk, if and when they want to.
  • Respect their pace.
  • Reassure them that they are safe.
  • Keep to usual routines.
  • Keep them from seeing too much of the frightening pictures of the event.

When should a person seek more help?

In the early stages, psychological professional help is not usually necessary or recommended. Many people recover naturally from these events. However, some people may need additional support to help them cope. For example, young children, people who have had other traumatic events happen to them and people with previous mental health difficulties may be more vulnerable.

If about a month after the event anyone is still experiencing the following difficulties, it is a good idea to seek help:

  • Feeling upset and fearful most of the time
  • Acting very differently to before the trauma
  • Not being able to work or look after the home and family
  • Having deteriorating relationship difficulties
  • Using drugs or drinking too much
  • Feeling very jumpy
  • Still not being able to stop thinking about the incidents
  • Still not being able to enjoy life at all

You can access help by:

  • Speaking to your local GP
  • Accessing your local NHSpsychological therapies service:

-Bury, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside and Glossop – Pennine Care Healthy Minds

-Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale – Thinking Ahead

-Wigan – North West Boroughs Trust

-Bolton -

-Manchester –

-Salford -

-Trafford -

-Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year.

-The Sanctuary (0300 003 7029) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year, for people who are struggling to cope - experiencing depression, anxiety, panic attacks or in crisis.

-The Gaddum Centre – (0161 834 6069) offering advice, support & listening for children, young people and families including therapy and counselling for bereavement and loss.

-Manchester Psychological Wellbeing Service (0161 226 3871 talking therapies, supported online therapy and structured courses to individuals experiencing low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem and other common mental health issues.

Support for Children and Young People in Manchester

-Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services

-kooth.com free, anonymous mental health and wellbeing online support including; counselling, chat rooms, messaging facilities, forums and resources.

- young people aged 11-25 years: Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), One to One Support, Groups and Projects, Drop-ins, Arts-based activities.

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- mentoring, befriending, advice, volunteering and an internet caféfor young people aged 15-25 years.

- Help and resources for parents, carers and children.

The School Nursing Service is available throughout the half term holiday to support any child or young person affected by the tragic event at the Manchester Arena.

The contact numbers are:

South School Nursing Team: Susan Warren (Acting Team Lead) on 0161 946 8239

North School Nursing Team: Marcia McCaughey (Team Lead) on 0161 241 2813

ChatHealth – a confidential text messaging service for young people aged 11-16 will also be available on 07507 330205

Manchester Children and Adolescent Mental Health Mental Service

Manchester Children's and Adolescent Mental Health Service would like to provide the following guidance:-

Current NICE Guidance for Post-Traumatic Stress is contained in CG26 which can be found at

Key points of note are:-

  • One-off 'therapy' sessions (debriefing) soon after the event are not helpful and may possibly be harmful.
  • Therefore the emphasis when young people/families present following a trauma is more focussed on emotional support and practical support/guidance in the first instance e.g.

Listening to concerns and giving emotional support, signposting etc.

Discussion about what emotional and behavioural responses may be expected

Advice about accessing support networks - e.g. family members, friends, support within school/college, helplines

Screening for post traumatic symptoms - e.g. flashbacks/recurrent distressing images, nightmares, physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety/hyperarousal, low mood, numbness, alcohol/drug use etc

For most young people, watchful waiting may be appropriate - possibly with a review in a month, but if there are severe symptoms/distress there is no reason to delay referral to specialist services and assuming the young person agrees, trauma focussed CBT may be indicated within the first month.

If in doubt please do call

  • North Manchester CAMHS on; 0161 902 3400.
  • Central Manchester CAMHS on, 0161 7016880 Schools and families can also contact us.
  • South Manchester CAMHS on0161 902 3400

Please find attached a list of helplines and websites :-

  • NSPCC/Childline online advice:
  • Samaritans: 0345 909090 / 0161 236 8000 -
  • The National Self Harm Network:
  • Manchester MIND - 0161 226 9907
  • NHS Direct - 0845 46 47
  • EIS- 0161 277 6830
  • Eclypse substance misuse service - 0161 273 6686
  • Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.
  • PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

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