American congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has urged viewers to get mental health support if they found news of the US Capitol attack triggering.
In an Instagram live video, the congresswoman said US Capitol attack was a "traumatising event" and could be triggering for trauma survivors.
"Whether you are a service member who served in our armed forces abroad, whether you are a person who has experienced domestic violence (or) any traumatising event, Wednesday's events could have been very triggering for you too.
"You don't have to have been there - you could have just seen it on TV, but if you feel at all unsettled in a deep way, (and) your intuition is telling you something is not right, check in with someone...mental health care is health care."
"Wednesday was an extremely traumatising event. It is not an exaggeration to say many members of the house were nearly assassinated. We were very lucky that things happened within certain minutes that allowed members to escape the house floor unharmed."
Five people died in the attempted insurrection against the United States, including a police officer as rioters broke into the US Capitol building on January 6, attempting to dispute the election result that will see Joe Biden inaugurated as the new President, replacing Donald Trump.
The congresswoman who is of Puerto Rican heritage, said she did not feel safe as she was evacuated to a safe point.
"Not knowing whether an officer is there to help you or harm you is traumatising. I did not feel safe going into the secure extraction point because there were QAnon and white supremacist sympathisers among members of Congress in that extraction point, who I know, and who I had felt would disclose my location… who would create opportunities to allow me to be hurt, kidnapped."
"To be fending for yourself in that way is traumatising and I know a lot of you, I don't have to describe it, you've been through it, in school lockdowns, in false alarms...it is no joke."
If you need mental health support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
