A terrorist attack can have a significant psychological impact on the bereaved. Some people react immediately with feelings of anguish, panic, anxiety, stupefaction, a sense of the unreal, and sometimes with physical sensations, including pain and trembling. Others won’t feel the effects for days, weeks or even months.

In an emergency, health professionals from Medical and Psychological Emergency Units (Cellules d’Urgence Médico-Psychologique — CUMP) are mobilized by France’s Emergency Medical Help Services (Services d’Aide Médicale Urgente — SAMU) to provide early medical and psychological care to victims. Trained to handle psychological trauma, these professionals include psychiatrists, psychologists and specialized nurses.

CUMP professionals are available to you at the site of the trauma, in healthcare facilities and at reception centers for families and those involved. The support they provide is aimed at attenuating the psychological impact of the events you have just experienced.CUMPs are present in every French department under the auspices of the SAMU and can be reached from France by dialing 112 by cell phone or 15 from a fixed-line telephone.  

Problems may appear in the days, weeks and months following the trauma in the form of anguish, feelings of uneasiness or insecurity, irritability, sleeping difficulties, and depression. Distressing images of the event can occur and re-occur night and day. These disorders can make family and professional life difficult and affect your health. Adults of all ages can be affected, as can teens and children, and may manifest changes in behavior, fear, difficulties getting to sleep, or trouble concentrating at work or school. In all cases, effective support is available. Don't hesitate to consult a healthcare professional, even long after the trauma has occurred and even if the effort seems difficult to make.

Your general medical doctor, the CUMP and non-government organizations will be able to help you and direct you to mental health professionals with whom they are used to working, and who are specialized in providing care for post-traumatic psychological disorders.  

In all cases, your residual cost of the care will be taken into account by the Compensation Fund for Victims of Acts of Terrorism and Other Offenses (Fonds de Garantie des victimes d’actes de Terrorisme et d’autres Infractions — FGTI), when calculating your prejudice (loss and damages). You must provide an attestation from the medical and psychological unit or an attestation from your medical doctor or your psychiatrist, as well as paid invoices for the care received and any documentation showing the share of the cost paid by your insurance or mutual health insurer.