How to Deal with the Mental Impact of the Australian Bushfires

Bushfires have ravaged large parts of Australia for the last 3 months and have resulted in a scale of destruction that will take years of recovery. Many lives lost, thousands of homes destroyed and over 12 million acres of land burned. Trauma such as this can result in lingering distress not only for direct sufferers, but also for those who those who are indirectly affected, witnessed the event or even read about the tragedy. At Psylegal, we are the experts in trauma counselling Melbourne residents know and trust. While the immediate aftermath of such a catastrophic event is a scramble for survival, we know the true impact is felt in the weeks, months and years following and it’s then when concerns about mental wellbeing begin to surface. 

The Long-Term Impact of Bushfires on Mental Health

Research conducted in the years following 2009’s Black Saturday has shown that while the majority of people directly affected by catastrophic bushfires demonstrate resilience without any indication of psychological distress, approximately one in five people in affected communities experience persistent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and psychological distress and will require psychological intervention to support their mental health recovery.

Common Reactions to Bushfires

It’s natural to feel a wide range of emotions and reactions after a traumatic event and these reactions are usually the most severe in the first week after the event, however, in most cases, they fade over a month. Such reactions may include:

• Feeling overwhelmed
• Feeling detached
• Unable to focus or concentrate
• Constant sadness
• Intrusive memories
• Trouble sleeping

When day-to-day functioning is seriously affected for more than one month after the event, it’s important to discuss it with a GP or mental health professional.

Dealing with the Emotional Impact of a Bushfire

There are a few easy things you can do to help lessen the impact of a traumatic event of a bushfire, including:

• Spend time with people who you care about and who care about you
• Focus on feeling safe
• Find out about the impact of trauma and what to expect
• Try to continue with your usual routine
• Look after your physical health
• Talk about how you are feeling and about what happened when you are ready
• Talk about the ups and downs of recovery with friends, family and the health professionals involved in your care
• Have a plan to deal with times of stress or reminders of the trauma

Be Aware of PTSD

Not all people who have experienced bushfire-related trauma will develop mental health disorders.

It’s normal for everybody to experience fear, anxiety and distress during and after such events, but that’s very different from the enduring disruption that is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

If you experience any of these symptoms at any time, seek help from a GP or mental health professional:

• A sense that your emotional and/or physical reactions are not normal
• Thoughts of self-harm or of ending your life
• Being easily startled and then taking a long time to calm down
• Feeling overwhelming fear for no obvious reason
• Having panic attack symptoms such as increased heart rate, breathlessness, shakiness and dizziness
• Intrusive and constant thoughts about what happened and being distressed by the memories
• Withdrawing from people and socialising
• Avoiding returning to a bushfire zone, refusing to read or talk about it
• Constantly feeling on edge or anxious
• Constant difficulty sleeping
• Ongoing feelings of intense anger and emotional distress

If you or someone you know is showing signs of prolonged distress following the Australian bushfires, there is available support for individuals whose mental health is impacted, either directly or indirectly. The experts at Psylegal are highly experienced in providing individualised trauma counselling programs tailored to the specific needs and goals of each client. Contact us today to discuss your unique therapeutic needs.