Mental anguish lives on a year after Townsville’s catastrophic flood disaster

The water may have subsided but the emotional anguish of last year’s flood disaster remains, with a worker at the front line saying a “flurry” of people had needed support recently.

THE water may have subsided but the emotion and mental anguish of last year’s catastrophic flood disaster in Townsville remains, with a mental health worker at the front line saying a “flurry” of people had needed support in the last few days.

Parents are warned children may experience some anxiety during the wet season, and to be attentive and aware.

MORE: Ask for help, says victim of Townsivlle flood

Townsville Health and Hospital Service’s Disaster Recovery Team (DRT), set up in September, has provided almost 500 hours of clinical support for victims of the disaster.

The team has been providing community development designed specifically to support the flood-affected.

Team leader Ben Freedman said more than 50 people had received support, across all age groups and some people with PTSD, with there being a “flurry” in the last few days.

He said many people they’d seen had “quite a substantial” impact from the flood, due to issues with insurance or continued displacement.

“There’s a group of people in the community who’ve experienced post-traumatic stress disorder and we’ve been able to provide some very focused psychological therapy addressing that trauma with some really good outcomes,” he said.

DRT child and youth mental health clinician Amanda Cran said children and teens may develop a range of responses after a natural disaster, including symptoms of traumatic stress such as fear and avoidance, outbursts of anger, separation anxiety, sleeping problems or regression to an earlier development stage.

“It is normal for children to feel a little anxious,” she said.

Originally published as Mental anguish lives on a year after Townsville’s catastrophic flood disaster