None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
On Friday 15 March 2019, approximately 300 people in two Mosques in Christchurch were attacked by a white supremacist shooter resulting in 71 being injured, 51 being shot dead. This study aims to explore the psychological effects of this event, in particular the impacts on those highly exposed - the bereaved, the injured, the witnesses and their adult family members. Assessments will be performed 1-2 years, and 4-5 years (and post the event) by Muslim researchers supported by a mental health nurse and include self-report measures and a diagnostic interview. The aims are to a) understand the psychological, cultural and social effects of mass trauma in a Muslim community; b) To examine the value of clinical screening following such an event in detecting serious mental health difficulties.
Interventions
The exposure is the Mosque attacks in Christchurch on March 15 2019.
Assessments will be at 1-2 years and at 6-8 years post the attacks.
The change to the date of the second assessments to 6-8 years post the attacks, was made in August 2024 before enrolment of any participants these assessments.
Interviews will involve a Muslim Research Assistant and a specialist mental health nurse, and will be completed face-to-face or using Zoom according to participant preference and Covid-19 restrictions.
The exposure is the Mosque attacks in Christchurch on March 15 2019. Assessments will be at 1-2 years and at 6-8 years post the attacks. The change to the date of the second assessments to 6-8 years post the attacks, was made in August 2024 before enrolment of any participants these assessments. Interviews will involve a Muslim Research Assistant and a specialist mental health nurse, and will be completed face-to-face or using Zoom according to participant preference and Covid-19 restrictions. The nurse will complete a semi-structured diagnostic interview using the MINI. Participants will complete self-report measures of: Current social and demographic factors Ethnicity, years in NZ, family composition Measure of quality of life – Personal Wellbeing Index Measure of social support – PhenX Toolkit (Measures incorporated in this study were selected from the PhenX Toolkit version June 4, 2019, Ver 26.0.) Perceived Discrimination Scale Measure of functioning - Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) Measure of exposure and impacts Whether injured and/or bereaved and measure of previous exposure to trauma Mental health and wellbeing measures Wellbeing – WHO-5 Wellbeing Index Measure of psychological distress – Kessler 10 Measure of PTSD – Post traumatic Checklist for DSM5 – PCL Measure of somatic symptoms - Somatic Symptom Scale Resilience and post-traumatic growth Religious coping scale Post traumatic growth - Post traumatic growth inventory Covid-19 Impacts Scale Other measures The research will include a measure of how acceptable the interview process was. We will also obtain consent to access participant’s NHI number to compare the number of times they saw a doctor or other health provider 5 years before and after the 15th March (attendances). A qualitative study in 40 participants from 4 different types of exposure (bullet-injured, bereaved, witnesses and family members) will explore impacts of the attacks, the impacts of other stressors, what has been helpful and resilience.
Sponsors
University of Otago
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1.Through the support of the Muslim community and leadership, all of the surviving adults in Christchurch (aged over 18) who were in (or nearby) either of the two Mosques at the time of the shooting on 15th March 2019 will be invited to participate in the study. 2.We will also invite participation from close relatives (spouses, parents, children over the age of 18 and siblings) of those who died or close relatives (spouses, parents, children over the age of 18 and siblings) of someone who was present at one of the mosques on that day. 3. From 21.4.21, the inclusion criteria expanded to to include adults from the local Muslim community who were in Christchurch at the time of the mosque attacks in 2019.
Exclusion criteria
Those under 18 years. Those not exposed as described in inclusion criteria above. Those exposed (as above) but not now in Christchurch
Outcome results
None listed