Finding Strength After Tragedy: Healing from the Bondi Beach Incident

Share and Follow

The emotional toll of the country’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years, continues to weigh on millions of Australians, affecting each person in unique ways.

Lifeline Australia, a national charity providing 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services, said after the attack they had two of their busiest days connecting with people seeking support.

Anna Brooks, the chief research officer at Lifeline Australia, told SBS News: “We’re taking more than 4,000 requests for support each day.”

Recent reports indicate a significant increase in the number of individuals seeking assistance, surpassing typical levels by more than 10 percent. This surge comes in the wake of a tragic event that unfolded on Sunday.

support across the course of this year.”

During a Hanukkah celebration, two men, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, allegedly opened fire on a gathering, resulting in the deaths of 15 people. Naveed Akram now faces multiple charges, including 15 counts of murder and several terror-related offenses. His father, Sajid, was killed by police during the incident.

Tamara Malca Ben-Shaul, a psychologist based in Melbourne, emphasized that events like this can have widespread psychological effects. According to her, the human nervous system often reacts to traumatic events irrespective of physical proximity to the incident due to its inability to differentiate between perceived and actual trauma.

For more on coping with grief, tune in to our latest podcast episode titled “Allow the Tears to Come: Dealing with Grief After Bondi.”

Ben-Shaul said people should use some “grounding techniques, like really paying attention to the senses”, to check if they are impacted.

“Just ask yourself what am I seeing, what am I smelling, what am I hearing now, what am I touching,” she told SBS Hebrew.

She said if someone is still feeling the same five minutes later, it’s probably a good idea to reach out to professionals.

In the wake of the Bondi Beach tragedy, NSW Health is offering support to anyone affected — directly and indirectly.

A mental health disaster response has been established in the eastern suburbs of Bondi and Coogee, with trained mental health clinicians available from 8am to 8pm over the coming days and weeks.

Brooks said those who are struggling, feeling overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next should seek support.

“We really do encourage people to reach out early … Our crisis supporters are ready to help people through this really tough time,” Brooks said.

“Don’t feel like you have to be in a really extreme crisis, an acute crisis, to use our services. We are there for everyone, and we’re there for people who may just be at the moment, who may be feeling unsure, a little bit overwhelmed, but not necessarily in crisis.”

Things you can’t ‘unsee’

Experts also suggest being “mindful of how much you actually want to consume” the news.

“There’s an awful lot of footage and information out, and when you see things, you can’t unsee them,” Brooks said.

“If you are starting to feel overwhelmed, then it might be a good time to step away from that information for a while.”

You can also help others with their grief, she said.

“Check in with others, see how they’re travelling, give them the opportunity to talk to you. Coming together as a community after a shocking, devastating event like this is a way that we can really add value to each other and come back together as a nation,” Brooks said.

“If you think they’re starting to struggle, give them the opportunity to talk to you, but also make the suggestion that maybe it’d be a good thing to not consume too much more of the news for a while.”

How to help kids

Media coverage and distressing graphic content online can affect children and young people even more.

Leo Hede, national service manager at Kids Helpline, a phone and online counselling service for those aged 5 to 25, said immediately after the Bondi shooting, they received a call “from a mother and three young children who were at the beach during the event and needed immediate support”.

“Our counsellors have also been supporting both parents and children and young [people] across Australia with calls just to talk through and support them with the impacts of what’s been happening, not just in Sydney,” Hede told SBS News.

Parents can call the Kids Helpline and hand the phone over to their kids to get support from a counsellor. Older kids can call themselves and connect with a counsellor.

Their web chat counselling service is also a popular way for young people to use their phones or computers to text one of the helpline’s counsellors.

Hede said their number one advice for children is to stay connected to their family and community.

“A key tip and advice for parents is to be available for your children and for your family. And to be reassuring that your parents are often the anchors in the family, and children are looking to them.

“Make sure that you are being present and available and curious about what is happening for your children and supporting them through this time.”

Readers seeking crisis support can ring Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at beyondblue.org.au and on 1300 22 4636.

Griefline provides confidential support on 1300 845 745 and via griefline.org.au