WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR OTHERS
Take care of yourself first.  Then you can help others.

Listening

• Listen carefully.
• Acknowledge feelings as normal.
• Be sensitive to individual circumstances, and different points of view.
• Don't respond with "you're lucky it wasn't worse."  Instead say you are sorry such an event has occurred and you want to understand and help.
• Don't take emotional responses like anger personally.
• Respect an individual's need for privacy.  If someone doesn't want to talk about the incident or their feelings, don't insist.

Reaching Out at Work

• Organize support groups at work to help one another.
• Offer a "listening ear" to someone who hasn't asked for help but may need it.
• Give encouragement, support and understanding with on-the-job issues.
• Identify resources for additional help (EAP, mental health benefit, human resources department).

Helping Friends and Family

• Offer to spend time with the traumatized person.  Reassure them that they are safe now.
• Offer help with everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, caring for the family.
• Respect their need for privacy and time alone.
• Suggest available help (EAP, community resources, church groups, etc.)
• Keep communication open - be available and accessible.