Support After the Tai Po Fire
If the Tai Po fire or related updates are bringing up intense reactions, start with these trauma-sensitive exercises or pause and reach out for crisis help (call 999 in Hong Kong or visit our Emergency Support page).
Crisis & Trauma Support
Understanding Trauma & Emotional Recovery
You are not alone. Learn how crisis and trauma affect the mind and body, what is common after events like the Tai Po fire, and where to find support in Hong Kong.
Section I
Trauma and Post-Trauma Q&A
Warm, practical answers for survivors, witnesses, helpers, and people retraumatized by news coverage of the Tai Po fire.
A. Understanding Trauma
Basics and common reactions after crisis events such as the Tai Po fire.
Q1. What is trauma?
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Trauma is the emotional and physical impact of events that feel overwhelming, life-threatening, or shattering to a sense of safety. It is less about the type of event and more about how intense, sudden, or uncontrollable it felt, and whether support was available.
Q2. What counts as a traumatic event?
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Traumatic events can include serious accidents, fires, sudden deaths, medical emergencies, violence, or witnessing others being harmed. Repeated exposure to distressing news or images, such as ongoing coverage of the Tai Po fire, can also feel traumatic, especially if it echoes past experiences.
Q3. How does trauma affect the brain and body?
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In emergencies, the nervous system often switches into survival modes such as fight, flight, or freeze. Stress hormones rise, heart rate can speed up, and thinking narrows around danger. Afterward these systems can stay activated, which is why people may feel on edge, numb, jumpy, or disconnected even when no longer in immediate danger.
Q4. Why can reactions feel out of control?
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Trauma responses are largely automatic. They are the body's way of trying to protect you, not a sign of weakness. You might cry suddenly, feel nothing, forget simple things, or notice strong body sensations without knowing why. Naming these as trauma reactions can be calming and help you choose support.
Q5. What are common emotional and physical reactions after trauma?
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Reactions can show up across many areas:
- Emotional: shock, fear, sadness, anger, guilt, shame, helplessness, numbness
- Physical: headaches, stomach aches, muscle tension, fatigue, racing heart, appetite changes
- Cognitive: confusion, trouble concentrating, memory gaps, intrusive images or thoughts, difficulty making decisions
- Behavioural: sleep changes, withdrawal from others, irritability, using substances or screens to cope
- Relational: feeling clingy or distant, frustration with loved ones, difficulty trusting others
These reactions are common in the days and weeks after distressing events and often soften over time with rest, safety, and support.
Q6. What is normal vs concerning after trauma?
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Disturbed sleep, strong emotions, or appetite changes are common in the first days or weeks. Concern grows when symptoms are very intense, last longer than a month, interfere with basic functioning, or include thoughts of self-harm.
Chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, or loss of consciousness require urgent medical care at A&E.
B. What Helps in the First Hours to Weeks
Early steps for the first 72 hours, first week, and first month.
Q7. What is most important in the first 72 hours?
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- Ensure physical safety and access to shelter, food, water, and medication.
- Use gentle grounding and calming rather than deep processing or detailed retelling.
- Stay connected to trusted people through brief calls or messages.
- Avoid major life decisions while the nervous system is still in shock.
Q8. What supports recovery in the first week?
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- Re-establish simple routines (waking, meals, hygiene, short walks).
- Protect sleep: keep a regular bedtime, limit late-night news, reduce excess caffeine or alcohol.
- Allow short conversations about the event when you have energy; end with a grounding activity.
- Stay socially anchored through low-pressure contact, even if you do not feel ready to talk much.
Q9. What about the first month?
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Many people notice ups and downs through the first month. Helpful steps include:
- Gradually return to work, school, or meaningful activities at a manageable pace.
- Notice patterns (what triggers you, what helps) without judging yourself.
- Use grounding and self-care strategies regularly, not only in crisis moments.
If symptoms worsen or do not improve after several weeks, consider contacting a mental health professional.
C. Special Topics in Trauma
Grief, children, older adults, and why people respond differently.
Q10. How do grief, loss, and shock show up after events like fires?
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Grief can involve sadness, disbelief, anger, regret, or feeling numb. People may grieve the loss of loved ones, homes, routines, or a sense of safety. Survivor guilt is common. Waves of intense feelings followed by numbness or distraction are all part of many people's natural process.
Q11. How are children and teens affected, and how can caregivers help?
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- Common reactions: regression, clinginess, irritability, risk-taking, withdrawal, sleep problems, fear of being alone.
- Support with simple, honest explanations; keep routines predictable; limit distressing news; invite questions without forcing talk.
- Use comfort objects, play, drawing, and shared activities to help young people express feelings safely.
Q12. What about older adults, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups?
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Older adults and people with disabilities may face extra risks such as mobility challenges, access to medication, or difficulty using crowded shelters or transport. They may also minimize their own distress to avoid burdening others.
Support by checking practical needs first, sharing information slowly and clearly, and involving trusted caregivers or community resources when possible.
Q13. Why do people react so differently to the same event?
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Trauma responses are shaped by many factors: previous experiences, personality, culture, age, physical health, and the level of support before and after the event. Avoid comparing your recovery to others. Your pace is valid.
D. Long-term Recovery and Growth
What recovery looks like over time and how to support yourself.
Q14. What does recovery usually look like over time?
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Recovery is often uneven: good days, hard days, and many in-between days. For most people, intense reactions ease over weeks to months when safety, rest, and social support are present. Setbacks after triggers do not mean you are back at zero.
Q15. What is post-traumatic growth?
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Post-traumatic growth describes positive changes some people experience after trauma, such as deeper appreciation for life or closer relationships. It does not mean the trauma was good or that suffering is required. Meaning and strength can exist alongside pain.
Q16. How can I support myself in the months after?
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- Reconnect with community, hobbies, or spiritual practices that feel grounding.
- Return to valued roles at a manageable pace without over-pushing.
- Care for your body through sleep routines, gentle movement, and regular meals.
- Seek therapy, peer support, or mutual-aid groups for added space to process.
E. When and Where to Seek Help
Warning signs and how to access support in Hong Kong.
Q17. When should I seek professional mental-health support?
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- Symptoms stay strong or worsen after a few weeks.
- Daily tasks at work, school, or home feel impossible.
- Frequent dissociation or feeling detached from reality.
- Heavy reliance on alcohol, drugs, or risky behaviours to cope.
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Q18. What types of trauma therapy exist?
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- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT).
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
- Narrative and exposure-based approaches delivered safely and gradually.
- Body-based or somatic approaches that pay attention to sensations and regulation.
Q19. How can I find mental-health support in Hong Kong?
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- Public hospitals and community psychiatric services.
- NGOs and charities offering counseling, hotlines, or support groups.
- School or university counseling centres.
- Private clinics (psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors).
Q20. Where can I get immediate help in a crisis?
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If there is immediate risk of harm or severe medical symptoms, call 999 or go to the nearest A&E.
For emotional crises, reach out to 24/7 hotlines on the Emergency Support page or contact trusted friends, family, or community workers who can stay with you until you feel safer.
Section II
Quick Guides for People Supporting Survivors
1-2 minute reads with clear do/don't lists.
Quick Guide for Family and Close Friends
1-2 minute read for loved ones supporting someone after a crisis.
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Quick Guide for Family and Close Friends
1-2 minute read for loved ones supporting someone after a crisis.
What to say and do
- Validate feelings: "It makes sense you feel this way after what happened."
- Offer practical help: meals, transport, childcare, paperwork, company at appointments.
- Check safety and comfort: "Have you been able to eat and sleep a little? What do you need right now?"
- Encourage gentle routines: regular meals, hydration, light movement, predictable structure.
- Be patient with mood swings and changes in energy.
What not to do
- Do not force detailed retelling of the incident.
- Do not minimize their experience ("It could be worse", "At least you are alive").
- Do not rush to advice or problem-solving before listening.
- Avoid saying "Be strong" or "Move on" in ways that shut down emotion.
Quick Guide for Colleagues, Neighbours, and Community Members
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Quick Guide for Colleagues, Neighbours, and Community Members
Helpful actions
- Offer simple, non-intrusive support: "I am nearby if you need company or help with errands."
- Share accurate information only; avoid spreading rumours or unverified updates.
- Help with logistics: charging phones, temporary shelter, food runs, contacting relatives or services.
- Check in regularly in low-pressure ways without pushing for conversation about the incident.
Quick Guide for Teachers and School Staff
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Quick Guide for Teachers and School Staff
What to watch for
- Regression, clinginess, or loss of skills.
- Irritability, outbursts, or risk-taking.
- Withdrawal or loss of interest in usual activities.
- Daytime sleepiness, trouble focusing, or decline in school performance.
- Panic or distress during noise, fire drills, or sudden reminders.
Supportive actions
- Maintain predictable routines to create safety.
- Provide quiet spaces or short breaks when students feel overwhelmed.
- Communicate gently with caregivers about changes you notice and supports available.
- Encourage expression through drawing, play, or conversation without forcing details.
- Coordinate with school social workers, counselors, or educational psychologists.
Quick Guide for Counselors and Mental-Health Professionals
Early-phase guidance for helpers and clinicians.
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Quick Guide for Counselors and Mental-Health Professionals
Early-phase guidance for helpers and clinicians.
Do (early phase)
- Prioritize safety, stabilization, and orientation (time, place, body).
- Offer emotional first aid rather than intensive trauma processing in the immediate aftermath.
- Normalize a wide range of reactions without pathologizing short-term stress.
- Use gentle grounding and breathing practices tailored to culture and preference.
- Support practical needs and linkage to community or NGO resources.
- Identify higher-risk individuals (previous trauma, limited support, severe symptoms, suicidality).
Do not (early phase)
- Do not start intensive exposure-based trauma therapy in the first days unless clearly indicated and consented.
- Do not push for detailed retelling when the person is still destabilized.
- Avoid over-diagnosing expected acute stress reactions.
- Avoid false reassurance such as "You will definitely be fine soon."
Focus areas
- Risk assessment: suicidal ideation, self-harm, psychosis, severe dissociation, unsafe environments.
- Sleep management and psychoeducation on nervous system regulation.
- Involving families or key supporters when appropriate and safe.
- Clear referral pathways to psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, or crisis teams for higher-level care.
Quick Guide for Frontline Helpers (Paramedics, Social Workers, NGO Staff, Volunteers)
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Quick Guide for Frontline Helpers (Paramedics, Social Workers, NGO Staff, Volunteers)
Do
- Maintain a calm, steady presence; speak slowly and clearly.
- Prioritize physical safety and basic needs (medical care, shelter, warmth, hydration).
- Provide clear, simple information about what is happening and what will happen next.
- Help people reconnect with family and community members when possible.
- Offer small choices to restore a sense of control.
Do not
- Do not overwhelm people with too many questions or forms at once.
- Do not promise outcomes you cannot guarantee (housing, timelines).
- Do not downplay or dismiss feelings.
- Do not force people to leave familiar areas unless there is a clear safety risk.
Key principles (WHO PFA model)
- Look - check for safety and urgent needs.
- Listen - ask about needs and concerns.
- Link - connect people with practical assistance, social support, and professional services.
References and Further Reading
These materials are general psychoeducation and self-help information, not medical or emergency advice. If serious or persistent distress appears, please seek support from healthcare or mental-health professionals as soon as possible. Content may change over time, so let us know if you spot errors and we will update it quickly.