After mass violence such as the Bondi beach terrorist attack on Sunday, distress does not stop with those directly affected.

Fear, anger and uncertainty spread through media and social networks. This can intensify harm for survivors and targeted communities.

People closest to an event are often supported by services and community. But the wider public also shapes what happens next.

Here are three ways you can help reduce secondary harm.

Research on disasters and mass violence shows distress can ripple beyond those directly affected.

For many people it’s real but temporary, while a smaller proportion develop longer-lasting symptoms. Human threat detection systems evolved to respond quickly to danger, prioritising survival over nuance.

When threat systems activate, they mobilise the body and narrow focus. You may feel on high alert, lose sleep, have intrusive thoughts or images, feel irritable, or feel driven to seek information and certainty. These responses say nothing about a person’s strength. They’re common patterns from a nervous system experiencing uncertainty, though people’s responses vary widely in intensity.

The feeling of threat also spreads socially. Humans are sensitive to others’ emotions, especially in unclear situations. After terror attacks such as the one in Bondi, people look to others for cues about what’s happening, who’s at risk, and what to do. This can steady people, but it can also amplify fear.

Modern crises are further shaped by media exposure. Research shows heavy........

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