Yes, and it is more common than most people realise. Partners, family members, and others who witnessed the arrest or performed CPR often experience their own trauma, anxiety, and adjustment difficulties. In some cases the distress of the people around a survivor is more acute, at least initially, than the survivor’s own. We use the term co-survivor to recognise this, because the people around a cardiac arrest are not simply bystanders. They live with the consequences too.
The same NHS and private support routes available to survivors are open to co-survivors. Your partner can speak to their own GP, self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies in England, or access private therapy. As a member of our community, co-survivors may also be eligible for the free private counselling sessions available through our SADS UK partnership.
We have a dedicated section on our site for co-survivors, and our community is full of partners and family members who understand exactly what your partner is going through. Encouraging them to connect with others who have been in the same position can make a significant difference.