The community impact of a distressing event | Beyond Blue

The community impact of a distressing event | Beyond Blue - Beyond Blue

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Support following the Bondi tragedy

Community support

Beyond Blue is here for the community following the tragedy at Bondi Beach

Events like what happened at Bondi can feel shocking, upsetting and close to home, even if you weren’t there.

You might be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, numb, or unsure how to make sense of it all, even some time after the event. These are all very human responses.

If you or someone you care about is struggling, you’re not alone. Support is here.

This page is here to help you understand what you or people close to you might be feeling, and to guide you through what can help. If you’re struggling, it’s never too early to reach out to Beyond Blue.

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Illustration of two people embracing

Support is available from Beyond Blue 24/7

Our counsellors are here for you. Reach out whenever and as much as you need.

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Call a counsellor

Get free, confidential phone counselling any time of the day or night.

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Chat to a counsellor online

Experienced counsellors are available online 24/7 at our free Webchat Support Service.

If you are affected by the Bondi tragedy

If you’ve been impacted by a traumatic event, you may experience the following:

Feeling anxious or unsettled
Difficulty sleeping
Feeling overwhelmed or numb
Changes in mood or behaviour
Changes in your appetite

Some people also experience emotions, such as fear, anger or sadness, which can affect day-to-day life.

If things aren’t starting to feel easier, or you’re finding it hard to cope day to day, reaching out for support can help. You don’t have to go through this on your own.

Taking care of yourself after a traumatic event

After a traumatic experience, it’s important to look after yourself and support your recovery. Here are some ways you can do that:

Give yourself time and space to deal with what happened
Spend time with family and friends
Focus on the basics: rest, eat well, move your body and make time to relax
Try to reduce coffee, cigarettes, alcohol or drugs
Try to get back into a normal routine
Do things you enjoy
When you're ready, talk about how you feel
Don’t try to push your feelings away by staying very busy
Allow your feelings, and if you need it, ask for help

Illustration of woman holding chest

Illustration of woman holding chest

Guided breathing and relaxation exercises

Relaxation techniques can help to calm the mind and body and also manage some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

When to reach out for extra support

If your feelings aren’t easing or are getting worse, it’s a good idea to reach out to your GP or a mental health professional.

It’s important to get support straight away if you experience:

Thoughts of self-harm or of ending your life
Loss of hope or interest in the future
Intense anger and aggressive behaviour
Avoiding things that bring back memories of what happened to the point where you're unable to carry out day-to-day tasks

More help and support

Call Lifeline

24/7 suicide prevention and crisis support. Provides all Australians access to crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Phoenix Australia

Access reliable information about trauma, its impacts and pathways to recovery with trusted, research‑backed guidance from Phoenix Australia.

Visit Phoenix Australia

Jewish Care

Jewish Care offers culturally appropriate mental health, community and practical resources for individuals and families.

Call (03) 8517 5999

Call Suicide Call Back Service

Free 24/7 telephone counselling, support and resources for anyone at risk of or affected by suicide.

Call 1300 659 467

Medicare Mental Health

Connect with trusted, accredited digital mental health services at Mental Health Check‑In.

Visit Medicare Mental Health

How to support others affected by the Bondi tragedy

Support and connection from family, friends and colleagues can make a big difference for someone who has experienced trauma. You can help by offering information, emotional support, and practical assistance.

You don’t have to get it perfect. Being present and supportive matters most.

Acknowledge what they’ve been through: Let them know their reaction is valid, and that recovery can take time.
Support the basics: Gentle reminders around rest and sleep, eating well, and exercise can help. If it feels right, you might also suggest easing back on things like alcohol or caffeine.
Offer practical help: Small things, such as dropping off meals or helping with errands, can make a big difference.
Stay connected: Spending time together, even quietly, can help them feel less alone. You might suggest watching a movie, reading a book or going for a walk together.

Respect their pace: If they don’t want to talk, that’s okay. Just being there can be enough.
Listen without trying to fix: If they do want to talk, focus on listening. You don’t need to have all the answers.
Encourage extra support if needed: If they’re still struggling after a couple of weeks or more after the traumatic event, gently suggest speaking with a mental health professional.

Explore resources to help you support someone else

What to avoid when supporting someone after a traumatic event

When someone you care about is going through something distressing, it’s natural to want to help, and to worry about saying the wrong thing.

Often, the most helpful thing you can do is simply be there and let them take the lead.

Avoid pushing someone to talk, let them share in their own time: You don’t need to ask for details or encourage them to talk before they’re ready. Giving them space can help them feel safe and in control.
Instead of trying to fix the problem, focus on listening: It’s okay if you don’t have the right words. Listening without interrupting or trying to solve things can mean a lot. You might say something like, “I can hear this is really hard for you right now.”
Avoid comparing or minimising their experience: Even well-meaning comments like “it could have been worse” can feel dismissive. What matters most is how it feels for them.

Learn more about how to talk to someone about their mental health

Supporting kids and young people

The support of parents and carers can make a big difference. Children and young people often show how they’re feeling through behaviour rather than words.

You might notice clinginess, trouble sleeping, irritability, withdrawal or physical complaints
They may focus on the event, or avoid anything that reminds them of it
Talk with them in a calm, simple way.
Answer questions honestly, at a level they can understand
Remind them they’re safe and not alone

Talking with them, answering questions and reassuring them that they’re not alone helps them feel safe.

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Teachers supporting learning communities after a traumatic event

Educators in schools can play an important role in supporting children and young people who have experienced a traumatic event in the community.

As an educator, the relationships and experiences you foster in daily practice support safety, attachments and connections for the students in your care.

You can also support your students’ sense of safety and regulation by looking beyond their behaviour to understand what is happening for them.

Learn more about the impact of trauma on children and young people

Illustration of parent consoling child

Illustration of parent consoling child

Supporting colleagues or teams

People may respond differently at work, and reactions can change over time. Some people may be directly affected by a traumatic event, while others may feel unsettled or distracted witnessing things from a distance.

A calm and genuine approach and checking in regularly can help people feel supported and safe at work.

Acknowledge what’s happened in a simple, respectful way
Create space without pressure to talk or respond
Check in on capacity as well as wellbeing, and be flexible with workload, time or environment where possible.
Know what support is available and remind people of options like Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), GPs or mental health services like Beyond Blue
Keep communication clear and check in regularly over time, as reactions can be delayed and may change weeks or months later.

Illustration of two people conversing at desk

Illustration of two people conversing at desk

After traumatic events, it can help to be intentional about the media you consume.

Before scrolling or watching the news, pause and ask: is this good for my mental health right now?

Images and videos can appear unexpectedly, so managing your exposure is important.

Anita Savic, Clinical Psychologist and Senior Adviser, Beyond Blue

_______

Exposure to traumatic events through news and social media

Repeat exposure to traumatic events has been shown to affect our mental health. Living in a time of 24-hour news coverage means continuous engagement can be hard to escape, which may cause increased stress, anxiety, and depression.

Sometimes we need to keep a close eye and ear on the media for our safety, but ongoing exposure, whether you are directly impacted or not, can be distressing.

You might feel powerless and emotionally overwhelmed – especially if people you care about are going through that awful experience.
If you’ve lived through conflict and war, event images could bring back associated feelings.
Footage can be graphic, depicting first-person experiences – particularly on social media.
Social media is different to traditional news because content can appear in your feed without you looking for it, creating a constant background of information as you go about your day.
The increasing frequency of events can make us feel like the world is falling to pieces which can reshape our beliefs about the world.

Illustration of man and cloudy thoughts

Illustration of man and cloudy thoughts

Managing your news and social media intake after a traumatic event

Consider whether viewing the content you come across is necessary for your safety right now and stick to reliable, fact-based sources rather than unverified social media posts.

Illustration of woman listening to music on train

Give yourself permission to stop scrolling

If you notice it’s making you feel worse, it’s okay to pause, even for a short time. Set time limits to your social media apps to help you bring awareness to how long you’re spending on them.

Illustration of worried man on phone

Be the boss of your phone

Remember, you are in control of your phone. If it’s causing distress, you can delete apps, stop following or mute certain accounts, and turn off notifications.

Illustration of phone messages and chat

Stick to what news you need to know

Checking news or social media updates once or twice a day from reliable sources is often enough. Also try to avoid the urge to look at graphic content, including images, videos and audio. Instead, you might like to focus on activities you enjoy, and try to spend time outdoors.

An illustration of a person with short black hair, wearing a yellow shirt and blue pants, holding a smartphone, with a burnout gauge above showing the needle in the blue zone.

Check in with yourself

Try to notice how news and social media are affecting your mental wellbeing. Tools like our self-care check-in can guide you to make small, helpful changes when things feel overwhelming.

Illustration of manager yelling

Try not to engage in online arguments

After a traumatic event, emotions might be running high. Avoid engaging in online arguments as this can exacerbate feelings of distress and anxiety.

Illustration of online counselling session

Seek professional help

If distressing feelings persist for more than a few weeks, it’s important to get professional help. Call Beyond Blue anytime so you can get help early and feel better sooner.

Further information and resources

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Talk to a counsellor

Our qualified mental health counsellors are ready to listen to you any time of day or night. Get free, confidential telephone counselling (local call costs apply).

Seek professional help

Access reliable, research-backed information about trauma, including how it presents and what support options are available at Phoenix Australia.

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Access free mental health and meditation apps

Explore guided meditations, sleep support and tools to help you feel more grounded and supported with free apps such as Smiling Mind (for all ages) and Insight

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Explore apps that limit social media time

Explore apps that can help you manage and limit social media use, such as One Sec, Freedom and RescueTime. A great one for parents is Screen Time.

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National mental health helplines and support groups

Reach out to these mental health helplines and support groups for mental health. They're free for everyone in Australia.

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