NHS opens counselling hotline for those affected by Shoreham disaster

Local NHS services in Brighton and Hove have joined together to offer support to those affected psychologically or emotionally by the tragic events at the Shoreham Airshow.

Many people may have witnessed or been affected by the events – some of them at very close quarters. It is understandable that this may cause significant psychological or emotional impact.

It is common to experience a range of reactions in response to traumatic events, including memories of what you saw, feelings of distress, nightmares, sleeping difficulties, jumpiness or feeling like you want to avoid all reminders of what happened.

These experiences are normal reactions and usually reduce over a period of a few weeks without any professional help.

It may help to consider the following:

• Keep life as normal as possible
• Get back to your usual routine
• Look after your physical health
• Keep in contact with friends, family, or other people you trust and talk to them about what happened
• Try not to get into the habit of avoiding situations or information that reminds you of the event
• Be careful when doing any activity that requires concentration, such as driving, as this can be affected

However it is possible that for some people, the impact is more unsettling and distressing and the local NHS is offering the opportunity to talk about the experience with a qualified NHS wellbeing practitioner.

You can ring the following numbers for a free and confidential conversation to help you make sense of your reactions and to consider options. The service is available for all age groups.

If you live in Brighton and Hove please ring 0300 00 20 060 from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm. The service will operate until 18 September.

The service is not offered as an emergency service and if your need is urgent please contact your doctor.