What the research found
Hobfoll and colleagues brought together expert judgement and research evidence to identify five principles for support after mass trauma. They emphasised safety, calming, individual and community efficacy, connectedness and hope. Efficacy means a sense that people and communities can take useful action.
What this means in everyday terms
Support involves more than providing information. How people are treated, whether they feel safe and whether they retain meaningful choices also matter.
What this could mean for practice
For councils and recovery teams, a practical application is to review whether communication, meeting spaces and referral processes support these principles. Clear next steps and realistic choices may help residents feel more able to act.
What the evidence cannot tell us
This is an evidence-informed expert framework for immediate and medium-term support. It does not establish that every activity using the principles is effective, and it is not a substitute for clinical care where needed.