Christchurch terror Living with grim reality

People in Christchurch, and around the country, may struggle after terror attacks

Thousands around the country have been deeply affected by Friday’s brutal massacre of 50 people in Christchurch’s mosques. The psychological impacts are likely to be far-reaching and longlasting.

Here’s a look at the toll it is taking, what’s being done and advice for those struggling to cope.

Christchurch residents

Whether directly involved in Friday’s shooting or not, it’s been a rough eight years for many in the city.

Thousands of people sought counselling after the devastating 2011 earthquake and Friday’s events were likely to bring back the feelings and emotions for some, said Canterbury Charity Hospital co-founder Professor Phil Bagshaw.

The charity hospital already had more than 30 counsellors ready to provide free help to anyone who needed support in dealing with the mental and psychological impact of the shootings.

“How big this will be, nobody can tell us. The experts tell me it will be massive,” he said. “What the experts say is that in quite a few people it will trigger memories and feelings that they had at the time of the earthquake. There are going to be lots [of people needing help] and it’s going to go for a long time.”

It was important to realise it was normal to feel upset by the events.

“It doesn’t mean you’re sick or anything. If you keep on doing normal things, it helps. Don’t selfmedicate with drugs or alcohol . . . talk to friends, people you trust.

“If the feelings become overwhelming you should ask for help straight away and if you can get it within a day or two the chances of success are better.”

Bagshaw said anyone who needed counselling could contact the Christchurch Charity Hospital on (03) 360 2266 to arrange an appointment.

Christine Macfarlane, Canterbury executive member of the NZ Association of Counsellors, agreed the aftereffects would not be seen for weeks or months. It was normal in the immediate aftermath for people to find they were not sleeping or were frightened or startled easily.

But if, in a couple of weeks, they were still struggling, they should seek professional help.

Survivors

Many survivors were struggle, Macfarlane said.

“One of the things that happens is

likely

to that people have flashbacks and intrusive memories that overtake them at any time. That puts people back in that fight-or-flight phase and they can freeze — everything just stops.”

Those who were in the mosques would never forget the horror, but the memories should stop being as intrusive and debilitating.

Survivor guilt was another common issue those who were in the mosques would have to deal with: “We are trying to make sense of something that’s impossible to make sense of.”

Medical staff

The scenes that faced first responders and medical staff were ones they would never forget.

St John officer Paul Bennett, who also worked during the Christchurch quakes, said Friday’s scene was the most horrific he had seen: “There was a river of blood coming out of the mosque. It was literally flowing off terracotta tiles, amongst fatalities.”

St John Ambulance staff member Spencer Dennehy said taking one of the first calls was distressing and “emotional, especially given it was in our home town”.

The call was from a woman whose husband and 2-year-old were in the mosque. Dennehy managed to talk her out of going in after them and was relieved to find all three survived.

When taking calls, the main focus was the job, but it was hard not to wonder about the safety of your own family and become emotional.

Debriefing at the end of the day with her team helped her cope with it. Dennehy admitted she did let herself cry when she got home and struggled to sleep that night but said taking flowers to the memorial “took a bit of the pain away”.

Paramedic Karen Jackson said talking with family and colleagues helped her cope, as did working the next day.

“At the time, you just click into it and go into a mode and do what you need to do. Other emotions, personal emotions, just get blocked out . . . and you focus your energy on what you can do. The rest of it comes later on when you’ve got a bit of quiet time to reflect and deal with in my own way.”

A St John spokeswoman said they had an in-house psychologist and support team on hand for staff.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell said specialist staff at Christchurch Hospital were coping as well as could be expected.

“Christchurch has experience with the earthquake but this is different with the pre-determination and the whole nature of it being a mass murder,” he said.

As staff had time to reflect, mentalhealth issues could arise.

“I think it’s inevitable there will be a lot of emotional stress that will continue for some time. Hospital specialists are human beings but they do see things that others do not.”

The hospital had an employee assistance programme available.

Schools

Staff and students at schools yesterday were coming to grips with the act of terror.

Cashmere High School felt the full impact of the event. Two students were killed and another injured, while family members of other students were also killed and injured.

Principal Mark Wilson said the weekend allowed friends and family to come together and start to process things before returning to some semblance of normality yesterday.

“Schools do provide a really important healing place where students can come together, sometimes to get away from their families and to catch up with their mates. Also to be with their teachers who they . . . have strong relationships with as well.”

Schools also provided some regular routine, he said.