ABSTRACT
Post-incident support Responding to staff after an incident should not be seen as a separate issue but part of the overall policy in preventing and controlling violence and aggression at work. 1 This includes the immediate response action needed to manage the consequences of an act of aggression and also the follow-up and evaluation of what happened so that lessons can be learnt for the future. An effective, sensitive response is crucial if people are to cope with the longer-term impact of such acts and adjust to everyday life once again. 2
Ways of coping People develop different ways of coping during the course of their life. 3 They learn to manage the demands made of them and exercise control over their choice and decision making. Lifestyles are built around patterns of response that have been established to cope with stressful situations and threats.4 These lifestyles are highly individual and necessary to protect and maintain a person's sense of wellbeing.
