Hi there, Sana Qadar here from ABC Radio National's mental health podcast All In The Mind.
 

I had planned for this final newsletter of the year to be a cheerful wrap, looking over some of All In The Mind's top episodes of 2025. But then Bondi happened.
 

On a sunny Sunday, two gunmen shot and killed 15 people in an antisemitic attack. The youngest person killed was just 10 years old. Her name was Matilda.
 

It's been a devastating blur of headlines, videos, survival stories and funerals ever since.
 

If you're like me and find it hard to rip yourself away from social media and news websites when horrible things happen, I recommend reading this story on how to cope with feelings of distress, fear and vicarious trauma.
 

In it, trauma specialist Nicole Sadler says that simply switching off isn't necessarily a helpful or viable solution for everyone.
 

Instead, she recommends visiting trusted news sites rather than social media, and where possible, going online to get information and getting offline again quickly, rather than watching, listening or reading for extended periods.
 

"It is the watching of the constant cycle of news going over and over again making you more and more distressed that is unhelpful," Professor Sadler says.
 

Many people are also navigating how to talk to their kids about what happened in Bondi. This article has plenty of helpful advice, including how to keep the information you relay simple and age appropriate, and whether using words like "terrorism" and "antisemitism" in your explanation is helpful or not.
 

Finally, I do want to try and end on a hopeful note.
 

There have been incredible stories of heroism to emerge from the Bondi attack. A record-breaking number of people also donated blood in the week following the attack. Let these examples remind us that there is still so much good in the world.
 

In the list below I've also included some episodes of All In The Mind and stories from the ABC that may help you navigate the holiday season and recharge.
 

Wishing you a restful, restorative, love-filled holiday period.
 

Take care, and see you next year.
 

Sana
 

P.S. If you have other topics you'd like to hear more about next year on All In The Mind, send us an email.
 

And if you — or someone you know — find any of the themes we touch on in this newsletter difficult, please reach out to services such as Lifeline 13 11 14, Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 or the Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.
 

All In The Mind is an exploration of the mental: the mind, brain and behaviour. It airs on Sundays at 1pm and is repeated on Mondays at 11am and Fridays at 2.30am on Radio National. Listen for free on the ABC listen app.
 

You can find more mental-health-related content on ABC iview, and head to our dedicated page for articles.

The images and descriptions of the Bondi Beach shooting attack are confronting, and having an emotional reaction is normal, experts say. 

It is difficult enough to process news of the Bondi Beach shooting as an adult, but how do you even begin to explain it to a child? This is what three psychologists say about how to talk with your kids about it.

Maybe you're about to sit through an awkward holiday situation with someone you REALLY don't know how to handle. In this episode of All In The Mind, clinical psychologist Rachel Samson shares her tips on how to navigate difficult people. 

These school holidays, children under 16 will find themselves with less social media access as a ban comes into place. We asked the experts how parents can best support their kids with the transition. 

In this episode of All In The Mind we explore the ramifications of our rapidly shrinking attention spans, debunk some myths about focus, and discuss the art of taking a break.