Two-thirds of people witness or are involved in a trauma such as violence, sexual assault, a natural disaster, a sudden illness or a death in the family.

There are a number of factors that will influence the different ways in which individuals come to terms with traumatic situations. The process can take weeks or years depending on the extent of the loss, the individual's ability to cope with emotionally challenging situations and the extent of the stressful events surrounding the trauma.

Reactions to a trauma might take the form of tense and unpredictable feelings, thoughts and behaviour patterns being affected, interpersonal relationships becoming strained, recurring emotional reactions, and physical symptoms like headaches, sweating and chest pain.

Sandy McFarlane, trauma expert from Adelaide University, has said “It’s important that the needs of people are properly assessed.” He said it’s important that people are helped to feel safe and that their basic needs are looked after, for example time, space, and physical and practical support.

“There’s a great need to establish long-term health services for these people. Often there’s a rush to provide immediate support which of itself is sometimes intrusive and not very helpful, forgetting that really it’s the long-term struggle that these people face,” he said. “Often there’s an expectation that people are not going be able to cope and won’t be functioning and in fact that’s very uncommon. Most people have a real ability to reorganise themselves. That’s not to say they’re not deeply distressed, bewildered and feeling an enormous sense of loss, but people can rebuild their lives in the first instance,” he said.

He recommended that individuals for whom the symptoms of trauma don't begin to wane in the short-term should see their local doctor or another professional to discuss it.

To aid recovery after a traumatic event:

• Try to accept what has happened rather than deny it;
• Practice self-monitoring and pacing;
• Maintain regular contact with colleagues, family and friends and talk about the incident;
• Eat regular meals with a balanced diet;
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, illicit drugs and excessive amounts of prescription drugs;
• Use relaxation techniques like brief breaks at work, practicing mediation or yoga, learning about stress management;
• Maintain regular lifestyle routines as much as possible;
• Foster flexibility, patience and tolerance;
• Get sufficient sleep; and
• Get plenty of exercise.