Bushfire Mental Health Services
It is normal to have strong emotional and/or physical reactions following a distressing event. This includes natural disasters such as bushfires. You can experience these reactions whether you are directly or indirectly affected.
Almost everyone who experiences a distressing event will be emotionally impacted. But not everyone will respond in the same way.
Possible reactions to distressing events include:
- Feeling stressed, anxious, exhausted or confused
- Feeling sad, overwhelmed or angry
- Shock, feeling ‘numb’
- Uncertainty about the future
- Feeling lonely, isolated or withdrawn
- Feeling unwell – headaches, difficulty sleeping, eating, weight loss/gain
- Resentment or blaming others
- Increased substance use
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- Nightmares or vivid dreams
For many people, these reactions will lessen over a few days or weeks, however for some people it may take longer. Help is available if you need it.
Other useful resources:
Lifeline Bushfire Recovery Helpline – 13 HELP – 13 43 57
Mental Health First Aid – Assisting a Person Affected by the Bushfire Crisis
