The Australian Psychological Society (APS) expressed its sympathy and support for the victims of the mass shootings in Christchurch and acknowledges the distress likely to be felt by the entire New Zealand community.
The APS said psychologists are well placed to assist the community during such harrowing times, and offered support for New Zealand Psychological Society colleagues who will be helping individuals and communities in need.
APS President Ros Knight said Muslim communities in particular will be finding the coming days deeply distressing. "Violence of any kind has no place in society. People of faith should feel free to exercise their beliefs without threat of violence and intimidation.”
Ms Knight said now is a time for unity, for communities to show support and care for one another, particularly those of an Islamic faith. “The more people feel connected, that they belong and matter in our communities, the more likely they are to rebuild their trust and the happier and safer we all become,” she said.
Ms Knight said people who did not experience the violence first hand may still experience strong emotional and physical reactions to media reporting of the incident. "Feelings of anger, sadness, confusion and fear will be common. The incident may even trigger feelings around a personal event or loss," she said. "Some people may feel a loss of sense of safety, or a loss of trust in government or authorities."
She also said while it's frightening to imagine random acts of violence that might hurt innocent people, we need to manage our feelings so that we can respond in constructive ways to build resilient communities, rather than fearful communities.
The APS has strategies to help people cope with distressing feelings following community violence, and to find ways to respond constructively to these events:
How to cope with distressing feelings:
- Maintain your normal routines.
- Take a break from the media. Media portrayal of these events can make them seem even more overwhelming or distressing.
- Ask for support from people who care about you and who you trust.
- Communicate about your own experiences.
- People personally involved in an event often need to share stories and emotions. They should be listened to, but in a way that does not encourage disclosure beyond the level at which they feel comfortable. Others may not want to talk about it at all, and this is also OK. Remember that there is no right or wrong way to feel.
- Remember you have plenty of coping skills, strengths and resilience. People cope well when they believe they have the ability to manage a stressful event.
- Take care of yourself with healthy eating, exercise, and plenty of rest. Give yourself time to adjust. Resilience is the norm, but it can take a little while to bounce back.
What communities can do when there has been an act of violence:
Talk about the issues the event raises
- Talking with each other about fears can enable us to better recognise the concerns we have about violence and injustice.
Talk about how to treat others
- Discuss frankly how some people in this country are treated. Hate and prejudice are not innate but learned. No one deserves any act of violence for their race, religion sexual orientation, gender identity, culture or other beliefs.
- Avoid stereotyping, narrow analysis of the problem and blaming whole groups for the actions of few.
- Separate angry thoughts about specific people from the larger religious or cultural group to which these people may belong.
- Remember people who advocate hate and violence are a tiny minority.
- Discuss the importance of encouraging peace and non-violence at all levels of society, by promoting understanding of people from different groups.
Foster hope
- Remember the world is largely a safe place, people are usually good, and life is worth living.
- Look for the positive changes that come from distressing or tragic events. For example, increasing the motivation to work harder to build a better, safer and respectful society.
- Find something positive to do in response to distressing world events, so you feel like you can make a positive difference in the world, such as volunteering in the community.
Access to professional help:
If your distress is acute and you need urgent assistance contact:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
The APS online Find a Psychologist service can help you locate a psychologist in your area to talk with: www.psychology.org.au, or ask your GP for a referral.
APS public resources:
Tip sheets:
Handbook:
For more information, or to arrange an interview call the APS Media team on 03 8662 3358 / 0435 896 444, or email. Find the APS Media team on Twitter: @AustPsych
The APS is the largest professional organisation for psychologists in Australia, representing more than 27,000 members. The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession. It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to people’s lives, through improving psychological knowledge and community wellbeing.