Supporting your wellbeing after a GoodSAM response

Dealing with emotional distress after a GoodSAM response

This information is provided for GoodSAM responders who have helped someone in a cardiac emergency.

Firstly, thank you for your courage and compassion in responding to an emergency.

Responding in these circumstances can have an emotional impact and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed or unsettled afterwards – especially if the person didn’t survive.

This page is intended to help you understand what you’re feeling, how to look after your wellbeing, and where to find support.

You made a difference

It’s important to recognise that you made a positive difference in accepting the GoodSAM alert, providing emergency aid and increasing the person’s chance of survival.

Even without a positive outcome, your presence and assistance would have provided comfort to the family and any bystanders.

Unfortunately, many people don’t survive a cardiac emergency, and this can be distressing for people – like you – who have tried to help.

Common reactions

After an event like this, you may experience:

• Flashbacks, replaying the event
• Guilt or self-doubt, asking “Did I do enough?”
• Shock, sadness or numbness
• Trouble sleeping or thinking clearly
• Fatigue, headaches or nausea

These are all normal reactions and for most people they will pass with time and support.

At the bottom of this page, there are links to resources with more advice about self-care in this situation.