Family and Friends of people who have been affected by crime can often feel frozen by fear of the event and the impact on the individual but also by a lack of knowledge of what to do next, how to help them, how to support them through this and trying to understand what is happening to them.
Often at the first instance of a traumatic event, people are willing to assist and support a person and offer them a shoulder to cry on, a safe place to rest and someone to listen. But as time progresses, the individual is still trying to come to terms with the experiences and family and friends can feel a range of emotions themselves.
Some of these may include frustration - at the legal system, at the perpetrator and at themselves. There may be tension as the relationship with the individual changes as their personality or behaviour may be impacted by the crime. The individual may be having difficulty sleeping or engage in behaviour that is at odds with their previous behaviour. These can all test our relationships, our offers of assistance and our patience.
But it is important to support the individual and some ways in which you can do this is read about the affects to someone impacted by crime. You can also learn more from reading other real life stories.
Last Updated: 19 May 2006