Useful skills for disaster recovery
This series of information sheets provides general psychological strategies to help people to cope and recover after bushfires.
Helpful thinking
Following bushfires, many people’s way of thinking about the world and themselves may have shifted to have a very negative focus. This information sheet provides guidance about how to notice unhelpful thoughts and how to focus on helpful alternatives.
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The importance of social connections
One of the best things we can do for ourselves following a traumatic experience is to spend time with people who care about us, and to feel the social support of friends, family and the community. This information sheet provides some useful strategies for how to make connections with others.
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Taking time for pleasurable activities
Doing activities that are enjoyable is very important as a way of gaining a sense of control and purpose in life, and for giving pleasure. This information sheet provides guidance about the importance of giving yourself permission to do some of the things you have enjoyed in the past, persevering, and planning ahead so as to have things to look forward to.
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Managing emotional distress
Even after the danger of the bushfires has long passed, people can experience upsetting reactions, and these can go on for weeks, months or years.
This information sheet outlines four steps to managing emotional distress.
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Problem solving
Following bushfires, people can struggle with a variety of problems, from how to clean up their house block to worrying about arguments with their partner, or struggling to supervise children adequately in a new or altered environment.
This information sheet outlines four steps to solving problems.
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American Psychological Association resources
The American Psychological Association has many useful resources:
Tips for managing your distress related to wildfires
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Recovering from wildfires
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How to talk to children about difficult news
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Recovering emotionally from disaster
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Recovering emotionally after a residential fire
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The Road to Resilience
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Research School of Population Health at the Australian National University resources
The Research School of Population Health at the Australian National University has produced resources about how people can protect their health from bushfire smoke.
What is bushfire smoke and how harmful is it?
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How to protect yourself and others from bushfire smoke
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How to monitor local conditions
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Take care of your mental health and other's after bushfires
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