Waite opens trauma centre

Terry Waite was a hostage for almost five years

Former hostage Terry Waite has opened a trauma centre in Aberdeen, and spoken of the importance of helping people overcome distressing experiences.

Mr Waite, who was kidnapped in Beirut in 1987 while acting as an envoy to the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, was held in solititude for nearly four of his five years in captivity.

He was subjected to months in the dark, manacled to the floor in the foetus position.

The negative can change to the creative

Terry Waite

At the opening of the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Research, Mr Waite said he had been pushed to the edge of life and faced mental, physical and spiritual deprivations.

But he said that because he had been able to discuss his experiences with a specially trained counsellor, he could manage the experience rather than allow it to manage him.

He was "enormously grateful" for such an opportunity and added: "The sooner people can be helped after a traumatic event in their lives the better.

"The negative can change to the creative."

Courses plan

In situations where no such help was given, human suffering could be tremendous and he dismissed claims that people in the past, such as survivors of Japanese prisoner of war camps, had been all right without any assistance.

The centre, which is funded by the University of Aberdeen and Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust, was established last year to research various aspects of trauma, and to encourage evidence-based clinical practice.

The centre plans to provide courses to heighten awareness of the impact of trauma and how to deal with survivors of trauma and their families.

Piper Alpha: "Long-term effects"

Centre director, Professor David Alexander, said he first became interested in trauma after the 1988 Piper Alpha oil platform disaster.

"It is not just bones, sinew and tissue. It is to do with long-term effects that go on for years," he said.

One of Professor Alexander's patients, Bob Wilson, who badly injured his legs in a motorcycle accident in 1997 said he thought the centre was a "tremendous step forward".

Mr Wilson, 48, who lost his job after the accident, said Prof. Alexander had helped put his life back together and that other people should benefit from similar specialist treatment and advice.

He said: "I think without his help I would certainly have severe problems in adapting to the stress of not just the accident but the impact it has on my family and friends."

The centre is the first of its kind in Scotland, but similar one already exist south of the border.