A traumatic event can affect people in many different ways, whether you were directly involved, witnessed what happened, know someone affected, or are feeling the impact across the community.
There's no right or wrong way to respond, and you don't have to navigate the aftermath alone.
After a distressing event, you might notice changes in how you feel, think or behave. Common responses include:
Emotional: Anxiety, sadness, anger, guilt, numbness or feeling overwhelmed.
Physical: Difficulty sleeping, exhaustion, tension or feeling constantly on edge.
Mental: Difficulty concentrating, unwanted memories, replaying events or worrying about safety.
Behavioural: Withdrawing from others, avoiding reminders or repeatedly checking for updates.
These responses can appear immediately or develop over time. Everyone responds differently.
A few simple things can help you navigate the days and weeks ahead.
Give yourself room. There's no set timeline for how you should feel or recover.
Look after the basics. Food, water, rest and familiar routines can help when things feel unsettled.
Take breaks from the news. Repeated exposure to distressing footage and coverage can increase distress. It's okay to switch off.
Stay connected. Spend time with people you trust, whether you want to talk about what happened or not.
Find moments of comfort. Familiar activities, gentle movement and things you enjoy can help you feel more settled.
If you're feeling distressed, try bringing your attention back to your immediate surroundings.
Ground yourself: Notice five things you can see, four you can feel and three you can hear.
Orient to the present: Remind yourself where you are and notice what's happening around you right now.
Change your environment: Move somewhere quieter, get some fresh air or spend time with someone you trust.
Different things work for different people. It's okay to find what helps you.
When someone you care about goes through something intense, it's hard to know what the right thing to do or say is. Just being there for your mates can do a world of good.
Something simple like “Hey, been thinking about you. How you holding up?”can be a great place to start.
If they don’t want to talk, don’t push them, but let them know you’re still there.
Offer very specific help instead of "Let me know if there's anything I can do", so you can take some stuff off their plate.
Doing simple, every day activities together can also help to keep things steady while they navigate what's going on.
Sometimes it’s great to give a mate some space to reset and step away from what’s going on for a minute.
You can offer to:
Sometimes something very ordinary is exactly what someone needs.
Sometimes it can be really hard to just sit with a friend who is in distress and not try to fix what's going on for them. Giving them the time and space they need to feel what they're feeling and speak it out loud is often so much better than a "she'll be right" approach.
It's normal to feel all sorts of emotions in the aftermath of something huge. Letting them exist without judgement, or even needing to understand what's going on can really help.
If you're worried about someone, you can gently encourage them to access professional support without making them feel pressured or judged.
You don't have to wait until things become unbearable to ask for help.
Professional support can provide a space to make sense of your experience, understand your responses and find ways to manage what you're going through.
It may be particularly helpful if:
Distressing thoughts, memories or feelings are becoming more frequent or intense.
You're having ongoing difficulties with sleep, concentration or everyday activities.
You're avoiding things that were previously part of your life.
You're feeling increasingly disconnected, anxious or overwhelmed.
Your relationships, work or daily responsibilities are being affected.
You're finding it difficult to manage on your own.
Early support can make a meaningful difference. Having access to appropriate care in the aftermath of a traumatic event can help people manage distress, reconnect with their supports and identify when further care might be useful.
Reaching out now doesn't mean you're committing to long-term counselling, and you don't need to know exactly what you want to talk about before making contact.
There are a range of services and resources available to help people affected by traumatic events.
Reflex is a Newcastle-based charity providing trauma-informed counselling, practical information and early intervention support in the aftermath of distressing events.
We've mobilised free support for people affected by the Wallsend incident, including witnesses, people directly involved and members of the wider community experiencing distress.
You don't need a GP referral to contact us.
Most people are eligible for 10 Medicare subsidised sessions with a Psychologist when they get a Better Access plan through their GP. During your appointment, the doctor will ask some questions about your mental health and help you formulate a treatment plan that allows you to access psychological supports.
Most employers provide some kind of support for their employees so they can talk to someone about personal or professional struggles that they are having. Have a chat to your manager or boss to see what services might be available to you.
Phoenix Australia
Information and resources about trauma, common responses to traumatic events and recovery.
Emerging Minds
Resources for parents, carers and professionals supporting children and families through distressing experiences.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Free, confidential crisis support, available 24 hours a day.
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Mental health information and support for people experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns.
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Free, confidential counselling for children and young people aged 5–25.
MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78
For men who need a chat or support.
https://mensline.org.au/
NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
For advice and connection to local mental health services.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/
13 Yarn: 13 92 76
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis supporter.
https://www.13yarn.org.au/
Open Arms Veteran & Family counselling: 1800 011 046
Free psychology for veterans and their families.
https://www.openarms.gov.au/
QLife: 1800 184 527
Support and referrals for LGBTQI+ community
https://qlife.org.au/
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000. If you're experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, contact emergency services or attend your nearest emergency department.
Getting the right support early can make a real difference in the aftermath of a traumatic event. You can help us make sure people across our community know that support is available.
Share this page with anyone who might find it helpful, spread the word by sharing our posts on social media, or help fund free counselling sessions by making a donation or becoming a community sponsor.
Every share helps us reach someone who might need support, and every contribution helps us provide it.
We'll get in touch and talk with you about what's happening and what might help.
You don't need to have the right words.
Just tell us you were at the Wallsend incident and would like some support.
If you're in immediate danger, call 000.
If you need someone to talk to outside our service hours, Lifeline is available on 13 11 14.
