Natural disasters have struck Australia on many occasions. Floods, bushfires, cyclones, drought and heatwaves have wreaked havoc on local communities and impacted many people. Any natural disaster can have an impact on short- and long-term mental health. They can be extremely traumatic experiences for the survivors of these disasters and can quickly destroy people’s homes, businesses, livelihoods, animals and even cause loss of life. 

Bushfires– In the 2009 Black Saturday fires there were 173 people killed, 2056 homes lost, more than 19,000 CFA members were involved in front line firefighting and all at a cost of over 4 billion (Bushfire Royal Commission, 2020). 

Cyclone – Cyclones are generally a disaster only the north of Australia must contend with. However, they can be devastating for those involved. Cyclone Debbie in 2017 caused 10 deaths and cost 3.5 billion in damages. It had wind peak wind gusts of up to 263 km recorded on Hamilton Island. 

Floods – The Queensland floods of 2010-11 caused 33 fatalities and had an estimated cost of 2.38 billion, 3600 houses destroyed, and 3572 businesses destroyed.  

Drought – Drought can have a devastating effect on people relying on the agricultural industry. It can make people feel helpless when their future is out of their control and the reliance on the land and unpredictable weather for financial stability. It may mean a total change of life and work, which has been so much of their identity and generational upbringing.

Natural Disasters can cause many ongoing health problems for survivors, both physical and mental. People may experience some symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) including flashbacks, nightmares and upsetting memories. People may find that they are triggered by new things like the smell of smoke. It may cause problems with sleep patterns such as insomnia or potentially over-sleeping, from exhaustion from being in a state of hypervigilance. Your body is experiencing an overload of emotions during this time and can present various ways such as a racing heart, tense muscles, loss of appetite and energy and trouble concentrating. Anxiety and depression can be something that can interrupt the quality of life after a natural disaster, and it is important not to be suffering alone.

At the Australian Trauma Support Centre, we specialise in supporting people affected by trauma. We can support you through this and provide ways to assist you with the emotional trauma experienced. If you are finding yourself struggling to cope after a traumatic event, please get in contact with us or your GP. You are not alone and you do not need to keep feeling like this.