Natural Disasters and Psychological Trauma

This program examines the psychological impact of recent natural disasters in Australia. Leading trauma experts Brett McDermott and Richard Bryant join the clinicians at the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, in relating the Australian Treatment Guidelines to both the immediate and long term trauma response to floods, cyclones and fires. Professor Brett McDermott is an expert in emotional trauma in children following large scale disasters. He conducted research into the impact of disasters on children's mental health following the Sydney bushfires in 1994, the Canberra bushfires in 2003 and Cyclone Larry in 2006. Professor Richard Bryant has conducted extensive research into trauma response both in Australia and overseas. He is an expert in managing the psychological effects of natural disasters. This program also includes the original program first broadcast in February 2009, which demonstrated how to use the Australian Treatment Guidelines. Natural disasters such as floods, bushfires and cyclones are regular occurrences in rural and coastal Australia and cause more than $1.14 billion in damages each year. Along with the damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure there is a severe human toll in terms of death, injury and psychological and emotional damage to individuals and families. Recent events in Australia highlight the need for continuing and improved capacity for health and other support workers to be able to deal with the psychological impacts of natural disasters. For many of these workers this is both a professional and personal issue. Researchers have pointed out that these threats to rural livelihoods result in individuals who are more prone to anxiety and that prior traumatic experience of a natural disaster produces an anticipatory anxiety that erodes both psychological and practical preparedness. The role and function of rural primary health care is often vital. There is a need for a higher level of awareness and education, which is a critical factor in developing the capacity of the workforce to continue to respond more effectively to natural disasters and trauma situations in the future. In 2009, in association with the Australian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health (ACPMH), the Rural Health Education Foundation produced a program based on the Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of Adults with Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. That program aimed to improve practitioner and community knowledge regarding best practice approaches to the management of mental health conditions following trauma. It covered issues such as psychological first aid, screening, trauma-focussed therapy, medication and other comorbid disorders following trauma. This updated program incorporates that original program along with leading trauma experts who relate the Treatment Guidelines to the psychological impact of recent natural disasters in Australia. Produced by the Rural Health Education Foundation http://www.rhef.com.au/