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Health and Wellbeing

FindHelpTAS is a self-funded community initiative led by a partnership of Tasmanian community service organisations, supported by the Tasmanian Council of Social Services (TasCOSS). This provides a comprehensive directory of services that may be useful or helpful in disaster or emergency situations.

Counselling and support services

There are many services waiting to listen and support anyone who needs advice or is worried, stressed or needs a friendly and understanding voice to talk things through.

Looking after yourself following a traumatic event

Emergency events are traumatic and overwhelming events, they can cause emotional, physical and financial stress.

Everyone will feel different in the days, weeks and months that follow.  It is important to take notice of how you and those around you feel and behave in case extra support is needed.

What to expect

It is normal for people to have a strong reaction following a traumatic event. You might experience one or more of the following reactions:

Shock
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Feeling numb and detached
Images
  • Nightmares
  • Flashbacks of what happened
Attitudes
  • Guilt or failure
  • Questioning your actions
Physical reactions
  • Cannot eat
  • Feeling sick
  • Cannot sleep
Emotions
  • Fear
  • Sadness
  • Anger
Social
  • Avoiding people
  • Needing to talk about it
Thoughts
  • Confusion
  • Forget things
Behaviour
  • Increased alcohol consumption

Taking care of yourself and others

Staying in touch with friends and family and talking about how you feel will be important in recovering after a traumatic event.

When and where should i get help?

Do not wait until things become too hard or you feel that you are doing it tough before speaking to someone.

When to get help
  • If you are worried
  • There is no-one to talk to
  • You continue to feel upset
  • Physical feelings worry you
  • Loss of hope or interest in the future
Where to get help
  • Family and friends
  • Your doctor
  • Social Work Services at your local Community Health Centre
  • Local community groups
  • Employer assistance programs
Looking after yourself
  • Keep in touch with people you trust
  • Talk about it
  • Exercise
  • Try to relax
  • Give yourself time
  • Take a pause and breathe slowly
Looking after others
  • Listen to their worries
  • Help with simple things
  • Give them time to recover
  • Let them show their feelings
  • Remind them to eat and rest
  • Ask what is important to them
  • Reassure them about safety security

Safe from family and sexual violence

Everyone deserves to live free from fear and violence. In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).

During emergencies there is a greater sense of instability, insecurity and fear, loss of autonomy, and dependency on others for help. This can increase cases of family and sexual violence. Everyone deserves to live free from fear and violence.

The Safe from Violence website is Tasmania’s central point of information for family and sexual violence.

Safe from Violence provides information, online resources and links to support services about family and sexual violence.

For more information, please visit www.safefromviolence.tas.gov.au.

If you or someone you know is impacted by family violence call the Safe at Home Family Violence Response and Referral Line on 1800 633 937.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual violence call the Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 697 877.