Keele Research Repository

Introduction - Recent attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, is
perhaps one the worst act of terrorism committed involving children
and adolescent. There have been numerous acts of school shootings
reported from Western and American schools but these have generally
been acts of individuals [1]. Although this trauma is unique in many
aspects, the region in which this school is located has borne the brunt of
trauma and terror suffering for almost three decades now. Many school
buildings have been destroyed in the region. A complex interplay of
social, political and religious values, and witnessing violence as an
everyday phenomenon already had an impact on the mental health of the
population in general, and women and children in particular [2-4].
The mental health professionals are faced with a number of
challenges in these situations. One major challenge is how we provide
the evidence based treatments for such psychological trauma as well as
prevent the long term consequences in children who are in the crucial
stages of their emotional and cognitive development. These challenges
are not easy to face especially when we consider lack of mental health
services for children in places like Peshawar. The Mental Health
Services for adults are already overstretched in providing the care for
severe mental disorders. In this article we will provide the outline of an
evidence based response in these situations.