Catastrophes and disasters are often overwhelming and staggering, causing death and injuries. In Hong Kong, a number of dreadful disasters have happened over the last decade, such as the Lang Kwai Fong incident, and the Pat Sin Leng and Garley Building fires. In cases like these, apart from those 'primary victims' - the deceased, injured and their families - there is another group of 'secondary victims' whose needs are often forgotten. They are the rescuers - police, fire, medical and other staff, and these catastrophes can have just as powerful an effect on them.

Due to the sudden nature of disasters, officers are often unprepared psychologically when they arrive on the scene. They can be overawed by the devastation and overwhelmed by the death and suffering, adopting psychological mechanisms like 'black humour' or 'dehumanising' the bodies, to remain emotionally distant and carry on their rescue work. Some officers, driven by their strong sense of mission, are so absorbed in the rescue they are reluctant to leave the scene when off duty. Feelings of helplessness are also prominent when the officers recognise their limited ability in countering the disaster. Some can feel guilty for not being able to achieve more.

After a rescue, officers normally require time to adjust to these psychological impacts. During this period, they can have frequent 'flashbacks' of some of the awful scenes they encountered, and those involving dead infants and children can be particularly stressful. Some officers steer clear of the disaster location, or from talking about the incident, to avoid triggering unpleasant emotions. Confronting disasters not only reminds officers of their own vulnerability, but also the value and importance of life and relationships. They revaluate their own lives and change their outlook. Numerous stress symptoms are also commonly reported, sleeping difficulties, nightmares, lack of appetite, emotion swings, and increases in cigarette and alcohol consumption.

To minimise negative impacts on officers, the Psychological Services Group (PSG) conducts psychological debriefings for officers involved in rescue work.

We welcome requests for services for officers suffering from various kinds of trauma and other psychological problems. PHQ, Hong Kong Island and Marine: 2866-6206 (5/F, 111 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay).

Kowloon and the New Territories: 2735-3739 (22/F, Ocean Building, 80 Shanghai Street, Kowloon).

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