Confrontations with reality: Crisis intervention services for traumatized families after a school bus accident in Norway

Abstract

In August 1988 a Swedish schoolbus with 23 children and 11 adult passengers crashed into a tunnel wall in Norway. Twelve children and four parents died, 18 of the passengers survived. The victims' relatives (parents, spouses, siblings, and others) were transported to Norway and given a “confronting” support program at the University hospital in Bergen. The crisis intervention program is described: how the relatives were helped to confront and actively cope with some of the stressful situations from which traumatized families very often are protected. One year later 42 of the relatives answered a questionnaire evaluating the confronting support program that was offered during their stay in Norway. A majority of the respondents did not regret their participation in the program. The answers indicate that passivity and helplessness can be counteracted through a combination of confrontation with reality and emotional support.