Lay summary
The Christchurch Mosque attacks are one of the worst mass shootings in history. Understanding the psychological effects of this event will provide insights into the mental health outcomes of the people involved and their needs in the months and years following trauma.
The proposed research therefore involves interviewing people who were in the Mosques at the time of the shooting and the 1st degree relatives (parents, offspring, siblings) and spouses of those who died. Interviews by trained interviewers from the Muslim communities, supported by experienced mental health nurses, will take place at between 6 months and 1 year after the event. They will screen for mental health conditions using a diagnostic interview and participants will also complete a range of culturally informed questionnaires to give further information regarding the effects of these events. A longer term plan is to repeat these interviews at 2.5 and 5 years after the event.