Kangaroo Island bushfire: Mental health support for communities

Mental health experts will unite for crisis talks in Adelaide today as Kangaroo Island residents are left reeling from days of fighting raging bushfires.

• KI fires latest: Click here for the most recent update

Mental-health experts will unite for crisis talks in Adelaide today, as Kangaroo Island residents are left reeling from days of fighting raging bushfires that continue to threaten properties.

Health Minister Stephen Wade, pictured, will attend the mental-health and wellbeing roundtable to ensure South Australians affected by the devastating blazes have access to services.

“It is critical we act now so that SA communities are getting the support they need,” Mr Wade said. 

“Early intervention can reduce the impact.”

Labor has called on the Federal Government to boost mental-health services after a meeting yesterday at Adelaide’s Old Parliament House.

Labor health spokesman Chris Bowen said trauma counsellors should attend fire-affected schools when classes return next month.

Dean Stanton, 98, returns to his home at Stokes Bay to collect his war medals, and is greeted by his grandsons William and Michael, who were defending their family homes. Picture: Emma Brasier

He announced several ideas to improve the health of people in affected areas, including:

LIFTING the cap on 10 visits to a psychologist or counsellor a year.

TELEHEALTH service rebates for fire-affected areas.

PUBLIC health awareness campaign on the impact of bushfire smoke.

ACCESS to respiratory specialists.

RESEARCH about the long-term health consequences of bushfire smoke

Planning is also under way for mental-health first aid training for Kangaroo Island residents after the fires.

Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation executive director, John Mannion, said four free courses for 100 people will initially be held in March as part of the KI Health Advisory Council’s recovery plan.

“It teaches people basically the CPR of mental health, but it also includes post-traumatic stress … and knowledge for the community to be able to look after each other,” he said.

“A lot of the trauma work takes place and then everybody leaves. That’s when the challenging time is.”

KI residents and brothers Jan and BJ Boers at the Kingscote Jetty in the early hours of Friday, after bushfires flared out of control during the night. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty

Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie is helping organise the sessions, while the SANFL has also given its support to the initiative and football communities on the island.

UniSA chairman of mental health, Nicholas Procter, said there was no right or wrong way to respond to upsetting thoughts and feelings because all humans were different.

Professor Procter said it was important to avoid reliving the event, and instead do activities that calm, comfort or distract from the trauma.

He warned against suppressing emotions, and encouraged people to re-establish routines and connect with others.

“It’s not necessarily to be with others to talk about things, it’s about being with others and being in the presence of others,” Professor Procter said.

People worried about the mental health of themselves, or a loved one, should discuss their concerns with a GP.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt is understood to be working on a mental-health package.

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