Bushfires and mental health

MEDIA RELEASE

9 February 2009

Bushfires and mental health

Statement from Professor Ken Kirkby, President of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists shares the community’s grief and distress at the tragic consequences including loss of life in the Victorian bushfires.

Many people throughout Australia and the world will be touched by these dramatic events. Those directly involved could be vulnerable to mental health consequences caused by the extremely frightening circumstances and/or loss due to the immediate effects of the bushfires.

While a great many people are courageous and resilient, it is important that skilled assistance is available to people over the complex period of the aftermath and recovery. Such horrific circumstances of loss and trauma will be painful for everybody and may lead to mental health anguish, particularly for those who have been most directly affected.

Australian researchers and expertise in this field have made leading contributions to understanding the mental health impact and the best ways of helping, and can be there for those who need such assistance. Careful attention is required to a coordinated response that provides appropriate care for those adversely affected, both as individuals and as communities.

There is significant expertise around Australia in coordinating mental health responses to natural disasters under the leadership of the National Taskforce for Disaster Mental Health, which works with emergency services, state mental health services and other clinicians engaged to assist with the immediate response and long term follow up.

There is much that can be done to assist people in dealing with natural disasters in both the immediate aftermath and in the longer term for those with lasting effects. Caution is required in the immediate response to avoid revisiting the traumatic events through ‘debriefing’ as this may compound the trauma. Attention is directed instead to assisting people to recover with appropriate support and acknowledgement of loss and grief.

Assessment and management by appropriately skilled clinicians is very important in lessening the likelihood of adverse mental health outcomes in the longer term. The great courage that gets people through such circumstances can be just as relevant when taking steps to seek help when needed.

Members of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists are closely involved in coordinating the disaster response in partnership with other health professionals including psychologists and general practitioners. Working together we can all provide significant assistance in this time of great need.

ENDS

About The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is the principal organisation representing the medical specialty of psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand and has responsibility for training, examining and awarding the qualification of Fellowship of the College to medical practitioners.