When news breaks that feels unbearably close to home, the body often reacts before the mind has time to make sense of it. In the wake of the Bondi shooting, many people – particularly within the tight-knit Jewish community directly affected – have described the same feelings: fear that lingers, a sense of vulnerability in public places, racing thoughts late at night, and an overwhelming helplessness.
Even if you weren’t physically there, trauma doesn’t require proximity. Watching events unfold, worrying about loved ones, or recognising yourself in the places and routines affected can be enough to unsettle your sense of safety. In moments like this, technology can feel like part of the problem – endless news alerts, constant updates – but it can also be part of the support system, offering grounding, understanding and moments of calm when emotions feel too heavy to carry alone.
Mental health apps and digital tools aren’t a replacement for professional care or community support, but they can help you regulate, reflect and breathe through the worst moments – especially when fear spikes suddenly or sleep feels impossible.
MoodKit – for when your thoughts won’t stop spiralling
After traumatic events, thoughts can loop endlessly: What if I’d been there? What if it happens again? Why don’t I feel safe anymore? MoodKit is based on cognitive behavioural therapy and helps interrupt those spirals gently. It encourages you to notice anxious thinking patterns without judgement and offers structured exercises to help soften their intensity. The mood diary can also be helpful when emotions feel confusing or contradictory — numb one moment, overwhelmed the next.
Talkspace – for speaking to a real human, right now
Sometimes, what you need most is to tell someone exactly how shaken you feel. Talkspace connects users with licensed mental health professionals via messaging or live sessions. For people affected by community trauma, quick access to professional support can be critical — especially if anxiety, grief or fear is starting to interfere with daily life.
Headspace – for creating calm when your mind feels loud
In the days after traumatic news, stillness can feel almost impossible. Headspace offers short, guided meditations that don’t require experience or emotional clarity. Even a few minutes of focused breathing can help your nervous system step out of fight-or-flight mode. The app also includes specific content for anxiety, grief and sleep, which can be particularly helpful when your body is exhausted but your thoughts won’t slow down.
Smiling Mind – for gentle grounding and emotional regulation
Smiling Mind is an Australian-designed mindfulness app that focuses on building emotional resilience through simple, guided practices. After traumatic events, when your nervous system feels constantly “on edge”, its short, age-appropriate meditations can help create small moments of calm and predictability. It’s particularly useful if you’re feeling overwhelmed but don’t know where to begin with mindfulness..
MindShift CBT – for anxiety that feels new or unfamiliar
Traumatic events can introduce fears that weren’t there before, including hypervigilance or avoidance of public spaces. MindShift CBT is designed to support people experiencing anxiety, panic and fear-based thinking. Tools like coping cards and thought journals can help you challenge catastrophic thoughts and build safer mental routines during uncertain times.
Quit That! – for noticing coping habits without shame
In the aftermath of distressing news, it’s common to lean harder on habits that numb emotions – whether that’s smoking, scrolling, or other behaviours that offer short-term relief. Quit That! helps users track habits compassionately, making it easier to recognise when coping strategies are starting to cause more stress rather than soothe it.
Mood Mission – for when motivation feels impossible
When trauma drains your energy, even basic self-care can feel out of reach. Mood Mission takes a practical approach by suggesting small, achievable “missions” based on how you’re feeling — anxious, flat, stressed or overwhelmed. These gentle prompts can help you take action without pressure, offering a sense of movement and agency at a time when everything may feel stuck.
Calm – for rest when your body won’t switch off
Sleep disruption is common after traumatic events. Calm offers guided meditations, breathing exercises and narrated stories designed to help the nervous system relax. When your body is tense and alert, having something soothing to listen to can make rest feel more attainable.
ChatGPT – for processing thoughts when you don’t know where to start
When your thoughts feel tangled or you don’t feel ready to speak to someone you know, using a tool like ChatGPT can help you organise what you’re feeling. Some people use it to write out fears they can’t yet say aloud, ask questions about trauma responses, or simply feel heard in a non-judgemental space. While it’s not a therapist, it can be a stepping stone toward clarity when emotions feel overwhelming.
Audiobooks – for understanding trauma and feeling less alone
Listening to audiobooks can be deeply comforting during periods of distress, especially when reading feels too demanding. Titles such as The Body Keeps the Score help explain why trauma affects the body and mind the way it does, offering validation to feelings that may otherwise feel frightening or isolating. Audiobooks can also provide a gentle sense of companionship — a calm voice reminding you that what you’re experiencing is human and shared.
A gentle reminder
If the Bondi shooting has left you feeling unsafe, shaken, or unable to function as you normally would, your reaction is valid. Trauma does not only belong to those who were physically present – it ripples through communities, families and identities.
Technology can’t undo what happened. But used intentionally, it can offer moments of grounding, understanding and connection – helping you breathe through the fear, regain a sense of steadiness, and remind you that you don’t have to carry this alone
Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support anyone who needs someone to talk to.
E-headspace – 1800 650890
Kids Helpline – 1800 551800
Beyond Blue – 1300 224636
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Reach Out
Jewish House’s 24/7 Crisis Line can be contacted on 1300 544 357
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jewish community and all those immediately affected. We stand in solidarity with everyone impacted by this tragedy and reaffirm that hatred, antisemitism, and violence have no place in our communities.
