Responding to traumatic events

Exposure to disasters like the recent floods and cyclones that have ravaged Australia confront survivors with immediate challenges. Exposure to such extreme stressors can cause a wide range of social and psychological impacts, but in most cases these challenges will not lead to the development of enduring mental health problems. However, it is common for people who have experienced a catastrophic event to display signs of psychological distress and it is not necessary to implement formal strategies during the immediate post disaster phase. At this time it is more effective to focus on helping people to meet their basic needs such as food, shelter and safety while also ensuring reliable information is available to survivors. It is also important to protect survivors from further harm and advise them on the types of assistance they can expect to receive (Grigg and Hughes 2010). The purpose of this clinical update is to offer evidence-based information for nurses and midwives who may be called upon to provide advice and care for survivors of traumatic events.