'What happened in London Bridge is appalling. Sadness and fear are normal, understandable reactions. Whilst many people will experience short-term distress, most will recover without needing to consult with a healthcare professional and will not suffer any long-term trauma-related health problems.
Immediate counselling after an incident can be harmful. However, if after few months, things are not settling then getting a professional assessment is a good plan. For now, we should trust in our resilience – we are stronger than we think.
Children will inevitably learn about the incident through news and social media so it is best to be open with them. As with so many things the best support comes from friends, colleagues and family to help those affected to get back to their everyday lives.'
Professor Neil Greenberg, Royal College of Psychiatrists
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896