why post-disaster mental health support must be tailored and backed by evidence

“We learn from every natural disaster. Whether it’s a fire or a flood, we learn something from it so we can respond to the next one better”.
— Malcolm Turnbull

Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and natural disasters, including storms, flooding and wildfires. Research shows that survivors and first responders of natural disasters are at risk of developing a chronic stress response that impairs mental health and well-being in comparison to non-exposed individuals (Beaglehole et al, 2018). Indeed, studies show that over 20% of adult and youth survivors experience clinically significant symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety. First responders also report…