APS statement on Bondi Junction attack

Statement from APS President Dr Catriona Davis-McCabe on the Bondi Junction tragedy

"On behalf of the APS and our psychologist members, I extend my deepest condolences to the victims and all people affected by the tragic events that unfolded in Sydney yesterday. 

We also send our utmost admiration and commendation to the police officer, first responders and members of the community who so bravely put their own lives at risk to save and care for others. 

This event will have a profound and lifelong impact on all people involved, including victims, first responders, witnesses, members of the community and members of the media reporting on the tragedy. Feelings such as immense grief, shock, horror and fear will be widespread in the community. These feelings are normal to experience, and it can take a few days, weeks or even months to recover from a traumatic event. 

Many of the brave people who helped at the scene or witnessed the incident will be in a state of shock which is likely to continue for some time.

It is crucial to prioritise psychological support and resources for those affected to navigate through the coming days, weeks and years. 

It is also important not to speculate at this time regarding the cause or motivation of the attack, and trust that further information will be uncovered and communicated by the police and authorities when formal investigations have been completed".

The APS recommends the following strategies for people impacted by this tragic event:

• Seek support: Reach out to friends, family, or a mental health professional for emotional support and guidance.
• Practice self-care: Engage in activities that promote relaxation and well-being, such as exercise, mindfulness, and spending time in nature.
• Express emotions: Allow yourself to express and process your emotions and make space for and normalise all emotions including shock, grief, fear and sadness.
• Establish routines: Establishing daily routines can provide a sense of stability and control in the aftermath of trauma.
• Limit exposure to media: Avoid or limit exposure to media, including social media, that may exacerbate distressing symptoms.
• Practice grounding techniques: Grounding techniques, such as deep breathing or focusing on sensory experiences, can help manage distressing symptoms and promote a sense of safety.
• Seek professional help: If symptoms persist or interfere with your daily functioning, consider seeking professional, evidence-based help from a psychologist experienced in treating trauma.

The APS has the following advice for parents and carers speaking with, or caring for children, who witnessed the event or have heard about it from others or in the media:

• Talk about the event - Encourage (but don’t force) children to talk about their thoughts and feelings about the events. Let them know that talking about it can be a good thing.
  • Provide children with opportunities to express their feelings - Help children and young people to put words to feelings.
  • They may talk about it in their own time or after a few days rather than the first time you have a conversation, so try to be open to this.
  • Sometimes children can better express their feelings through play than through words, so make time to play with them.
  • Let them know that crying is fine when they need to.
• Monitor and limit media exposure - Children can become distressed and fearful after watching repeated images of frightening events on the TV or social media so restrict their exposure to traumatic material
• Engage in age-appropriate honest discussions - By their very nature, tragedies are especially difficult to explain, and it can be very challenging to understand ‘unthinkable’ events.
  • It is normal for children (and adults) to seek an explanation of why a tragedy occurred.
  • By understanding, we are often trying to reassure ourselves that a similar event could be prevented in the future, so be prepared for ‘why’ questions.
  • Uncertainty is particularly distressing, so these questions can be hard, but children need our best answers

The following APS community resources are freely available to be used and shared by community members, first responders and media outlets.

Strategies for coping with tragic events 

Helping children cope after a tragic event

Tragic events and community violence

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder