health

• Sudden trauma (e.g., road traffic accidents, industrial accidents, domestic accidents, bereavement through sudden loss and major disasters) can:

  • have a marked effect on individuals and their relationships.

  • leave individuals feeling overwhelmed.

  • cause individuals to find that their usual ways of coping with difficulties in life are not completely successful.

• This section addresses some frequently asked questions about the impact of such trauma with regards to health-related matters, as follows:

  • How do individuals normally react to trauma?

  • When do normal reactions tend to occur and for how long do they last?

  • What is post-traumatic stress disorder?

  • Why do some individuals develop a post-traumatic condition and others do not?

  • What can individuals do to help themselves?

  • What are the basic steps others can do to help survivors of trauma?

  • What kind of professional help is available for survivors of trauma?

  • What lay and voluntary agencies are available to help survivors of trauma?