ESTSS Workshop Media and Trauma
čet, 24. ruj
|Coimbra
Organized by Centro de Trauma, Portugal
Vrijeme i mjesto
24. ruj 2020. 09:00 – 26. ruj 2020. 13:00
Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
About the event
ces.uc.pt/centrodetrauma
- 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOTRAUMATOLOGY (EJPT)
- 10 YEARS OF CENTRO DE TRAUMA/CES-UC
- BOARD MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF TRAUMATIC STRESS STUDIES (ESTSS)
The summer of 2017 will forever remain in the
memory of the Portuguese population. Within four
months, two large forest fires lead to the death of 116
people and hundreds of injuried. However, even
though the traumatic events have left a visible mark
on the victims, survivors and professionals working
in these scenarios, the intense media coverage of
the fires had (and continues to have) a determinant
role in the mental health of those involved, and in
the community in general.
Our research pointed out that the media coverage
has reported beyond the facts, exposing the
affected population in a state of vulnerability.
There seems to be a direct influence of the media
coverage in the stress reactions at three levels: (1)
the revival of trauma in the victims and,
subsequently, the greater difficulty of overcoming it;
(2) the development of a traumatic
symptomatology in the general population; and (3)
the traumatization of journalists themselves. The
journalists must take special care regarding the way
they share information, respecting the ethical and
deontological conduct of their profession, but also as
citiziens who are concerned about the consequences,
in a mental health level, on those who are exposed
to their work. Despite the need to ensure the
dissemination of information, a sensitive and
effective coverage may prevent the rekindle of
traumatic memories, protecting the victims from a
risk of (re)traumatization.
That’s why we want to dedicate our celebration of
the 10th anniversary both of our Centro de
Trauma and EJPT to discuss the relation between
Media and Trauma – and we urge all of ESTSS
members to join us in this reflection.
Next year in Coimbra?