Dealing with stress and trauma

Some information on dealing with trauma, stress and physhological reactions from Canterbury Webhealth.

Trauma, Stress and Psychological Reactions
Fact Sheets and Information

Helping Children Cope - EAP
EAP have released the following factsheet that provides tips on helping your children cope with the aftermath of the earthquake and the aftershocks: Helping Children Cope with the Canterbury Earthquake.

Factsheets - Joint Centre for Disaster Research
The Joint Centre for Disaster Research, based at the Massey University's School of Psychology, has released 11 fact sheets on how to identify and deal with emotional and physical reactions to the Tuesday 22nd February quake. The fact sheets offer tips on helping children, adolescents and families; identify common reactions; identify how to recognise and respond to the stress of being under threat and what to do when someone you know has been through a traumatic experience - Find out here »

Pegasus Health have released the following advice sheets:

Adult Patient Information Sheet - Dealing with Stress Symptoms

Parents Information Sheet - Dealing with Stress Symptoms in Children

The Mental Health Foundation have released the following advice:

Tips for Coping after an Earthquake

The Anxiety Disorders Unit, CDHB has released this information page:

Possible Psychological Reactions to an Earthquake.

Health Pathways Canterbury has helpful information and a variety of links here »

The Ministry of Health has a large series of fact sheets available online »

The European Network for Traumatic Stress - to help the most vulnerable, download PDF here »

Skylight Trust provides trauma, disaster and grief support - skylight.org.nz or freephone 0800 299 100

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Helplines

Earthquake Helpline - 0800 779 997

This provides information on income support, housing, community assistance, clean-up and how to contact any other services people may need. Non-English speakers can also use this service with the assistance of Language Line.

Counselling Helpline - 0800 777 846

Healthline - 0800 611 116
Language Line is available via Healthline for non-English speakers.

Earthquake Commission (EQC) - 0800 DAMAGE 326 243

Canterbury Court Services: 0800 324 627
Questions/concerns re court matters, fines or other justice-related services

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Free Counselling - Christchurch

The Ministry of Social Development have contracted the following agencies to provide free trauma support counselling in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquake.

Victim Support 0800 842 846

24/7. Telephone contact. People may need to leave their details and a volunteer will ring them back.

Samaritans 0800 726 666

24/7. National telephone listening and support service staffed by volunteers.

Lifeline 0800 543 354 24/7. Trained telephone counsellors.

Iwi Maori and Pacific Island Residents 0800 524 8248 (Te Runanga O Ngaitahu) 0800 875 839 or 027 600 9412 (Te Puni Kokiri)

Ethnic Support Migrants and Refugees on the government helpline 0800 779 997 or at Settlement Support New Zealand 0800 776 948.