day six - understanding the aftermath
In these times of speculation and misinformation, well researched, peer-reviewed evidence needs to gain traction and become the currency for conversation and debate in order for us best-understand a given subject.
In the years after the Black Saturday fires in 2009, there was a six-year study entitled “Beyond Bushfires Final Report - 2010 - 2016” examining the impact of the fires on community members physical and mental wellbeing.
They found that 3-4 years after the fires, PTSD, severe psychological trauma and depression rates were elevated by 26% in high-impact communities, 17% in medium-impact communities and 12% in low impact communities.
“Three to four years after the bushfires, participant responses indicated that the majority of people were resilient to the disaster experience and its aftermath. However a significant minority were reporting symptoms which indicated mental health problems that were beyond levels likely to be manageable and may require professional support [1]. This is approximately twice the levels you would expect in a population not affected by disaster. “
In order to address the impending mental health crisis for those in communities impacted by the current bushfire crisis, we can learn from the findings from the updated summary;
Close friends and family, social networks and community groups were important influences on resilience and recovery.
People living alone were at higher risk of poor mental health outcomes but this risk was reduced for people who belonged to local community groups.
In communities in which many people belonged to local groups, the benefits extended to other people living in that community. This shows that community group membership is a key factor in establishing and maintaining healthy and resilient communities.
Strong attachment to the natural environment was also associated with increased mental health, life satisfaction, resilience, community attachment & posttraumatic growth.
People who relocated out of affected communities had similar levels of wellbeing 3-5 years afterwards compared to those that stayed, but showed different support service needs.
The detailed Beyond Bushfires academic papers published to date can be found here - www.beyondbushfires.org.au
Kilt of the Day - Black canvas and Black Watch hybrid utility kilt
Links of the Day - Beyond Bushfires Final Report - 2010 - 2016
Beyond Bushfires Summary - 2019 update
References .
[1] Bryant R, Waters E, Gibbs L, Gallagher C, Pattison P, Lusher D, MacDougall C, Harms L, Block K, Snowdon E, Sinnott V, Ireton G, Richardson J, Forbes D.
Psychological Outcomes Following the Victorian Black Saturday Bushfires. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2014. 48(7): 634-643
Beyond Bushfires Final Report - 2010 - 2016
Beyond Bushfires Summary - 2019 update
