Families of Southport Attack Survivors Say Mental Health Support Has Fallen Short

The parents of children injured in the devastating Southport stabbing attack have spoken out about what they describe as a serious lack of long-term psychological support nearly two years after the tragedy.

Families affected by the July 2024 attack say they were left struggling to access adequate counselling services after the traumatic events that unfolded at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport. Three young girls — Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, and Alice da Silva Aguiar — lost their lives, while several other children and adults suffered serious injuries during the stabbing carried out by Axel Rudakubana.

According to lawyers representing many of the surviving children, parents continue to experience severe emotional trauma, with some still battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Concerns have now been raised about whether victims and their families received sufficient long-term care following the attack.

One mother, whose seven-year-old daughter suffered critical injuries, said her husband was denied additional counselling sessions despite ongoing PTSD symptoms. She described the support offered to parents as inadequate and emotionally draining, saying they often felt forced to justify their trauma while trying to access help.

The family praised the assistance provided to their daughter but claimed support for adults was limited and lacked proper continuity. Parents were reportedly offered between eight and 12 counselling sessions through Victim Support, leaving many feeling they had to “save” sessions for future court hearings and the upcoming public inquiry.

Claire Waxman, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, described the accounts from families as “deeply concerning” and confirmed she would raise the issue with government ministers and the leadership of Victim Support.

She said the Southport attack caused “life-changing injuries and profound trauma” that would affect survivors and their families for years to come. Waxman added that the experiences shared by parents raised serious concerns about whether victims received the level of support they should reasonably expect after such an extreme act of violence.

Victim Support defended its approach, explaining that the counselling programme was intended to provide short-term crisis intervention rather than long-term therapy. The charity said additional support should be accessed through NHS services if needed and stated that its methods follow national clinical guidance.

Meanwhile, Sefton Council received £665,000 in government funding to provide psychological support services after the attack. However, officials confirmed the funding was exhausted after just over a year, and discussions are now taking place about securing additional financial support due to the continuing mental health impact on affected families.

The emotional scars left by the Southport tragedy continue to shape the lives of survivors and parents, many of whom say the journey toward recovery is far from over.