The Pave Project Report - Queen's University Belfast

The PAVE Project Report 13
1. The PAVE Project:
Background and objectives
1.1. INTRODUCTION
A
lthough the conflict in Northern Ireland, locally known as the Troubles, has
affected the lives of many individuals, families, and communities, it was not
until recently that its long term psychological effects have been fully recognised and
more extensively researched. Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the
number of community victims groups who offer a wide range of services to help their
members cope with the Trauma of the Troubles. The research project presented here
establishes an overview and categorisation of the services offered to people affected
by the Troubles and explores the effectiveness of the current range of services. This
chapter provides a background to the project in which the concept of victimhood is
discussed and the human cost of the Troubles is outlined. Furthermore, it explores the
impact of the Troubles on people’s psychological health and describes the current
situation of service provision for people affected by the Troubles. In this introductory
chapter, the aims and objectives of this research project are also presented.