Understanding natural disasters and how you can help

Whether you’ve experienced a natural disaster firsthand, as a first responder, or are trying to support someone you care about, it’s common to feel stressed, overwhelmed and uncertain about the future for weeks, months, and even years.

For example, you might be trying to heal and rebuild personally while also helping parents, elderly relatives, friends, or fellow community members.

Even with mental preparation for events like droughts, bushfires, storms, and floods, natural disasters can cause worsening symptoms of existing mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

This is why it’s important to be aware of how you and the people you care about are coping.

On this page, you’ll find information on:

• Signs that someone might be struggling to cope
• Tips for helping someone you care about
• Practical ways you can offer support.

Scroll down to learn more.

It can be hard to know if someone we care about is struggling because everyone responds to stress and trauma in their own way.

On one hand, people are really good at saying, 'I'm fine.' when they're really not. On the other, people tend to light up around people they feel comfortable with.

If you suspect someone might be struggling to cope, it's a good idea to look out for the following signs.

If you're concerned about a child or man, spotting signs can be even harder.

Children lack the emotional maturity needed to process and express what they're experiencing, so you might see them revert to babyish behaviour. For example, a child who's struggling may start sucking their thumb, throwing tantrums or wetting the bed.

While men have the emotional maturity to express how they're feeling, they may not feel like they're allowed to. As a result, depression symptoms in a man can look like anger, risk-taking behaviour or burning out at work.

If you're looking for information on how to help children or a man in your life, you might find the following resources helpful:

• Contact Kids Helpline
• Read Better Health Channel's tips for supporting a child who's experienced trauma
• Contact Mensline Australia
• Learn about the common challenges of men's mental health.

One of the most powerful things you can do in the aftermath of any traumatic event is listen.

It can be tempting to offer solutions, but really, the best thing you can do is listen to what the person you care about is experiencing.

More practical support can come down the track but remember that most of the time - people just want to feel heard and have their emotions validated.

Scroll down for more tips.

When someone is emotionally recovering from a natural disaster, thinking clearly or finding the energy to move forward can be difficult.

Here are a few ideas for how you can offer practical support:

• Help them make a to-do list, assist with filling out forms, or gather support resources on their behalf
• Book an appointment with their GP to talk about getting a Mental Health Treatment Plan
• Organise a meal train and/or volunteers to help with things like mowing
• Encourage them to practise self-care by asking them to go for a walk or offering to watch their kids while they catch up on sleep.

Supporting someone else can be an overwhelming experience in itself.

While it's vital to look out for others, it can't come at the expense of your own mental and physical health.

This is particularly important to remember if you experienced the natural disaster alongside the person you're supporting.

As a carer, be sure to:

• Set and maintain personal boundaries
• Prioritise and practise self-care
• Recognise when things are becoming too much
• Learn how to have difficult conversations.