APS statement on recent distressing international incidents

The APS and our members would like to extend our sincere condolences to all people and communities impacted by recent distressing international tragedies, such as the Myanmar-Thailand earthquake and the explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran. We recognise these two incidents are not the only distressing events occurring worldwide right now. 

The impact of such traumatic events will be felt far and wide, including in our communities here in Australia, and all those who have suffered loss, injury, or trauma during this difficult time.  

We know many of our members will be caring for people who may have been impacted by these, and other, tragedies, and we appreciate the support and care you are offering to those in need. 

Feelings such as immense grief, shock, horror and fear are normal to experience in the wake of such distressing incidents, and it can take a few days, weeks, months or even years to recover from a traumatic event. 

In the wake of such events, emotional and psychological impacts can be significant and long-lasting. We strongly encourage anyone experiencing psychological distress to seek professional support.  

The APS recommends the following strategies for people impacted: 

• Seek support: Reach out to trusted friends and/or family. 
• Practice self-care: Engage in activities that promote your well-being. 
• Express emotions: Allow yourself to express and process your emotions and make space for and normalise all feelings including shock, grief, fear and sadness. 
• Maintain routines: Maintaining 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.
• Seek professional help: If symptoms persist or interfere with your daily functioning, consider seeking professional, evidence-based help from a psychologist experienced in treating symptoms associated with trauma. 

The APS also has the following advice for parents and carers speaking with, or caring for children, who have may have witnessed distressing events in the media or heard about them from others: 

• Talk about the event - Encourage (but don’t force) children to talk about their thoughts and feelings about the event. 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 try to 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 members, 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