Anniversaries and emergency services 

Dates like 7 Feb 2009 (the Black Saturday bushfires), December 2010 (Queensland floods) and 15 December 2014 (the Lindt Café siege) and many more are forever etched in the minds of frontline workers who respond to disasters and critical incidents.  

For those working in emergency services – firefighters, paramedics, police officers and other frontline workers – certain dates on the calendar aren’t just days; they are reminders of significant trauma events that they or their colleagues were involved in. The anniversary of a critical incident can bring with it a flood of emotions, triggering trauma-type symptoms in ways that feel as fresh as the day they occurred.   

Why anniversaries matter 

Trauma anniversaries can be powerful emotional triggers. The brain (and body) remembers significant events, especially those tied to life-threatening or unexpected situations. Sights, sounds, smells, and even the weather can bring back vivid memories, causing distress, anxiety, nightmares, or even physical reactions.  

While key dates were listed at the start of this blog, we know that for many frontline workers, a meaningful event that leads to a trauma response might not even make the media – it could be an event that occurred early in their career, one with personal significance, such as something that is ‘close to home’ like the death of a child when you have a similar-aged child, or even an event that happened off-duty. Regardless of the type of event, if it was personally significant to you, the anniversary may be a difficult time.  

Sometimes the thoughts, feelings and trauma-like symptoms can start to appear in the weeks leading up to an anniversary which many frontline workers can find puzzling. Often they will think: ‘Why now? I haven’t thought of that event for months!’ Or, ‘I thought I was past that?’ However, it is very normal to notice your mind wandering to these events as an anniversary approaches.  

The body and brain can remember these events and the associated thoughts and feelings vividly and, in some cases, so can the media, the public, and frontline organisations. Sometimes anniversaries are honoured in positive ways with helpful rituals, however occasionally the anniversary of an event can bring up negativity or even criticism of the actions of first responders. This type of criticism can exacerbate any trauma symptoms that you might experience.  

What to look out for 

In the lead up to an anniversary, individuals might notice that they: 

• have difficulty falling or staying asleep 

• experience nightmares or flashbacks to the event (or others like it) 

• experience unusual body aches and pains 

• have low motivation to do usual, ordinary tasks 

• feel disconnected from loved ones 

• have unexpected or unwanted memories of the event 

• struggle with basic self-care 

• want to talk about the event often, or NOT want to talk about it 

• are irritable or find everyday interactions quite mundane. 

Consider this list and think about any signs you might have noticed in yourself that are listed here, or even some of your own that are not.  

Coping with these changes 

Once you notice that an anniversary is approaching and you are feeling the weight of that memory you can: 

• Acknowledge the impact: Remember it’s okay to feel emotional in the lead up to; and on certain anniversaries. Recognising this impact can help process emotions rather than suppress them. 

• Minimise exposure to media where you can: This might include unfollowing certain social media accounts, limiting exposure to news or print media, or reducing time spent on internal communications where possible. This is a temporary strategy to ride out a short period surrounding an anniversary and should be used to protect yourself from unnecessary exposure or critique.  

• Lean on support systems: Talk to colleagues or friends who understand, reach out to a trusted friend, or seek professional counselling. Even if the event occurred some time ago this can help to process the event.  

• Practice self-care: Eating well, moving your body, and trying to maintain your usual routines (including sleep routines) can help manage stress or any lingering impacts of the event. 

• Honour the memory: Some find healing in acknowledging the event, whether through a quiet moment of reflection, a memorial, or an act of service. 

• Try to practice self-compassion: For some frontline workers they can have automatic negative thoughts about their own reactions on, or near an anniversary. It can be helpful to remind yourself gently that the event was significant to you and that your brain and body are working through those stored memories.  

First responders are trained to stay calm under pressure, but the accumulation of traumatic experiences can take a toll. The expectation to ‘just move on’ can lead to suppressed emotions, which may exacerbate trauma-type symptoms over time. However, the culture in emergency services is shifting towards acknowledging trauma and its impact. No one is immune to trauma, and seeking help isn’t a weakness; it’s a sign of resilience. If you’re struggling as an anniversary approaches, remember you are not alone. Reach out, speak up, and take care of yourself. 

Kim Harrison  
Senior Psychologist, Clinical Content Creator and Facilitator 
Fortem Australia 

Kim is a clinical psychology registrar with a background in Organisational Psychology and experience working with police members. She is passionate about mental health literacy and aims to translate up-to-date psychological research into easily understood information.