Supporting communities affected by extreme weather events

This summer has been very challenging for people living in many areas around Australia threatened by heatwaves, fires and floods. The APS provided support to the Red Cross Emergency Services teams on the north coast of Queensland who have been assisting people hit by unprecedented flooding in Townsville, which has claimed several lives and impacted around 20,000 homes.

The APS has a well-established Disaster Response Network which is a national volunteer network of APS psychologists with a special interest, and self-nominated expertise, in working with individuals and communities affected by disasters and emergencies in Australia, as well as those working to assist them.

During events, such as the Townsville floods, the APS is a point of contact and support for branches and individual psychologists working in the affected communities. We also have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Red Cross (ARC) to provide wellbeing support to their workers. This includes supporting the ARC by providing psychologists on a volunteer basis to provide support at the community level. In recent weeks we have responded to a number of these requests and expect further requests will be made as the impact of the events continues to unfold.

The APS website has a range of resources available in relation to disasters. Resources include information on preparing for a range of natural disasters and recovering after disasters have occurred. These include general information about how people can look after themselves as well as some specific information such as caring for children.

The most appropriate response at the time of the event and in the days and weeks afterwards is psychological first aid. Psychological first aid includes basic principles of support to promote natural recovery. This involves helping people to feel safe, connected to others, calm and hopeful, access physical, emotional and social support, and feel able to help themselves. It aims to reduce initial distress, meet current needs, promote flexible coping and encourage adjustment. It is most widely used in the first hours, days and weeks following an event.

Psychological first aid is based on an understanding that people affected by disasters will experience a range of early reactions (physical, psychological, emotional, and behavioural). These reactions may interfere with their ability to cope. These reactions are normal and understandable given people’s experiences. Recovery may be helped by psychological first aid. A small part of an affected population will require further mental health support to assist recovery, but most people recover well on their own or with the support of compassionate and caring disaster workers, family and friends. There are many community members, including psychologists, who are trained in this approach.

Psychologists working within impacted communities are encouraged to link with local coordinated efforts and also to utilise the APS resources to build their own understandings to incorporate into their work with clients. APS Guidelines in relation to how to provide psychological support to people affected by disasters will be particularly helpful.

Enquiries in relation to the Disaster Response Network or the role of the APS can be directed to Lyn O’Grady ([email protected]) or Emma Sampson ([email protected]).