The psychological impact of the Bondi Beach attack on residents and visitors

For many people, Bondi Beach has long been a place where safety was assumed. It was somewhere locals ran before work, swimmers met at sunrise, and visitors felt comfortable leaving bags on the sand while they grabbed lunch.

After the December 14 terror attack that killed 15 innocent people, that sense of ease has been badly shaken.

Mental health services have been mobilised across Sydney, but for many who live near or regularly visit Bondi Beach, the psychological impact is being felt in everyday moments, hesitating before returning, feeling on edge in once-familiar surroundings, and struggling to regain a sense of normality.

NSW Health has activated its disaster mental health response, with clinicians stationed around Bondi and Coogee each day, while hospitals and community services continue to provide 24-hour mental health support.

Dr Marny Lishman, a doctor of psychology, author and mindset coach, said intense emotional reactions were a normal response when violence occurred in a place people associated with safety and routine.

She said fear, shock and stress often emerged immediately after such incidents, with feelings of sadness, uncertainty and a loss of control developing over time.

“Common emotional responses after tragic violent events are fear, stress, panic, shock, anger and even helplessness,” Dr Lishman told NewsWire.

Dr Lishman said people did not need to have been directly involved in the attack to feel unsettled returning to the area, explaining that the brain stores information about environments it perceives as unsafe.

She said this heightened state of alertness was the brain’s way of trying to protect people from further harm, and while it may ease for some, it could linger for others.

“Our brain’s role is to protect us, so it stores any information about the environment that it deems unsafe,” she said.

Abee England, who moved to Bondi from London three months ago, said the attack shattered what she had always described as an unusually safe place.

“I tell my parents all the time how safe I feel here,” Ms England said.

“In London, you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. You’re always worried about something being stolen.”

She said Bondi felt different to anywhere she had lived before.

“We sat on the beach all day Sunday. We just leave our bags unattended, go get lunch, we come back, everything’s still there,” she said.

“It’s just the safest place ever.”

Since the attack, that sense of security has disappeared.

“I think we’re all just pretty shocked by how that’s been completely shattered,” Ms England said.

Dr Lishman said events like this could deeply disrupt routines for locals who relied on the beach as part of their daily lives, from exercise to social connection.

She said while some people might find comfort in returning to normal routines quickly, others could feel shaken for a long time, and there was no right or wrong way to respond.

“Everyone handles traumatic events differently,” she said.

Ms England said trying to get back into her usual routines had been difficult.

“Especially towards Christmas as well, with all of the shops being closed, none of the run clubs going along, not being able to walk along the promenade, we just can’t really get back to a sense of normality,” she said.

Felicity Burrows, who has lived in the area for two years, said she was “absolutely shell-shocked” by what happened.

“I just never would have expected to see anything like this happen here in Bondi,” Ms Burrows said.

She said one of the biggest differences she noticed after moving from the UK was how safe Bondi felt, particularly as a woman.

“Every day I’ll think in my mind, especially walking home at night, ‘wow, I can walk around here as a woman and be completely safe’. It’s incredible,” she said.

That feeling, she said, has been replaced by grief and heartbreak.

“I feel just an overwhelming sadness for the Australian people,” Ms Burrows said.

“The energy has shifted and changed so much.”

For those who want to return to Bondi Beach but don’t yet feel ready, Dr Lishman said patience and gradual re-engagement were key.

She encouraged people not to pressure themselves, to take small steps when they felt ready, and to lean on friends and family for support.

“Take your time. It’s normal to feel fearful about these recent events,” she said.

For parents, Dr Lishman said managing their own emotional responses was just as important as the conversations they had with their children, as young people often absorbed fear and anxiety through behaviour as much as words.

She said open and honest discussions, combined with gradual returns to public places, could help rebuild a sense of safety over time and show that everyday life could continue.

“We need to remember that our emotional reactions matter just as much as our words, as children absorb our fear and anxiety,” Dr Lishman said.

She said most people would recover naturally over time, but professional support should be sought if distress persisted or began interfering with daily life.

She said ongoing fear, difficulty functioning or an inability to return to usual roles were signs it may be time to seek help through a mental health professional, GP or support service.

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