Improving Mental Health for Older Victims of Crime

Researchers at University College London (UCL) are working with the Metropolitan Police and local branches of mental health charity Mind to trial a new intervention aimed at reducing the distressing psychological outcomes, known to be prevalent among older victims of crime, according to Phys.org . Early results from the study suggest that close to one in five older victims of crime continue to experience distress three months after the incident, with continued depressive or anxiety symptoms. Police officers are now meeting victims over 65 years of age who have been a victim of a crime within one month of the crime to screen them for significant distress. If people are identified as significantly affected by the crime, officers will provide them with information about how to seek help, such as advising a visit to a health care provider. Three months later, a UCL researcher will contact them to see what type of help they have sought, and to assess whether their psychological distress has subsided or persisted. Those who continue to experience psychological distress are invited to participate in the randomized controlled trial. Participants either receive usual care from a doctor, or usual care plus the Victim Improvement Package designed for the study, which consists of up to ten sessions of talking therapy using a newly designed cognitive behavioral approach. The UCL research team will be assessing the participants after the treatment intervention to see if their symptoms of depression or anxiety have improved.