FIRES - ABC Miniseries

Imagery from the upcoming ABC Fires Series may be distressing for some of our community members.

Many in our community either had or know someone who had a personal connection to the 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfires.

All of us will react to this material in our own way – some might experience positive reactions such as gratitude towards those who helped them at a stressful time. On the other hand some of us may experience increased anxiety, a sense of helplessness or anger.

We can choose to:

not watch the series.
begin to watch it and turn it off if you start to feel distressed.
use this series as a way to help us to psychologically prepare for a time of great stress in the future. Being psychologically prepared when a disaster is happening can help you feel more confident, more in control and better able to make effective emergency plans.

The Red Cross highlight 3 steps to assist you in being psychologically prepared:

Anticipate – that you will feel worried or anxious and remember these are normal
Identify – what specific physical feelings or frightening thoughts might be adding to the fear
Manage – your responses so that you can stay calm

For additional information visit https://www.redcross.org.au/get-help/emergencies/coping-after-a-crisis

If you feel this could be a triggering event for you, please make contact and talk to us; we are here to listen and help, please call the Council Outreach Team on (02) 4429 5888 or contact the NSW Health Shoalhaven Bushfire Recovery Service Clinicians on (02) 4424 7888.