Mental health support for Queenslanders
Australians experiencing mental ill health resulting from unprecedented flooding in Queensland will be able to access support through special measures announced by Acting Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler.
“The Queensland floods have wreaked devastation upon the people of Queensland with loss of life, property and livelihoods,” Mr Butler said.
“No doubt there will be lasting mental health ramifications for some residents in the flood affected areas who may have experienced loss or trauma.
“Trauma reactions to natural disasters, such as floods, may occur immediately after the event or in the weeks and months following, and some people will require ongoing mental health support; it is important that we reach out to flood victims and provide vital services for their recovery.
“In the weeks and months ahead, the Australian Government will provide access to ongoing support from allied health professionals including psychologists and social workers through the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) initiative.
“Recent changes to the ATAPS scheme already made funding available for extra support during times of tragedy and disaster, but I’m pleased to announce that the Government will increase this funding to ATAPS and associated support services by an additional $1.3 million for flood-affected communities.
“This additional funding will provide psychological services at no or low cost to patients and will complement emergency and specialist mental health services provided by the Queensland Government.”
Under the ATAPS initiative, Divisions of General Practice are funded to deliver psychological services at no or low cost to patients. ATAPS services and Medicare-based mental health services under the Better Access Initiative are already available to flood impacted Queenslanders through existing funding arrangements.
“Most people will recover naturally from traumatic events but it is important that people experiencing emotional distress talk to friends, family or professionals,” Mr Butler said.
“Of course, right now, telephone based compassionate counselling for anyone experiencing distress as a result of the floods is available through services such as Lifeline, Mensline Australia and Kids Helpline.
“I encourage anyone experiencing ill mental health, anxiety or trauma to reach out and seek help from the range of services available.”
Lifeline can be contacted on 13 11 14 or via the website at www.lifeline.org.au
Kids Help Line can be contacted on 1800 55 1800
Mensline Australia can be contacted on 1300 789978
How to cope with natural disaster trauma
While most of those involved in the flood situation in Queensland and in other states from Carnarvon in Western Australia to northern NSW and parts of Victoria will make a speedy recovery to normal life, it will take months and years for many affected.
The trauma of this will, like the bushfires of 2009 in Victoria, take tens of years to recover from. Many will be changed by it for the rest of their lives.
You can find out more about how to deal with natural disaster trauma at www.psychology.org.au, the website of the Australian Psychological Society.
There is information on how to recognise that you are having a “more than usual reaction” to what is happening, how to communicate well with children about such traumatic events as well as good information for coping now and in the future.
