Towards the Best Public Health Response to Horrendous Events

Abstract

The recent shootings at Port Arthur have highlighted trends throughout the Western World to extend debriefing and post-event counselling to the local community and secondary victims of such tragedies as well as the primary victims and emergency personnel involved. The cost of providing this extended service is not inconsiderable. There is little research that confirms effectiveness of such debriefing [1–4] and even some that points to possible long-term harm [5]. It is important to reconsider the most effective, post-event response from public health authorities.