How to help our loved ones after a natural disaster
Holy Moly! Just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, we just have to look at our coastal communities and the horrendous time they are going through. Actually the whole world is in a state at the moment.
It can be hard to know how to help others during these times. We have put together a list of ways that you can help.
Disasters and emergencies are powerful and upsetting incidents that intrude into daily life. Many people have strong emotional or physical reactions following a disaster or emergency, and this is quite normal. For most, these reactions subside over a few days or weeks. These people are not experiencing mental health problems, but may be worried about practical issues, or require simple guidance on topics like talking with children about the disaster, or supporting friends and family members who have been affected by the disaster. Others may have quite significant distress which will respond to support, reassurance and problem solving.
For some, the symptoms may last longer and be more severe. This may be due to several factors such as the nature of the traumatic event, the level of available support, previous and current life stress, personality, and coping resources. These people might need additional support to help them cope. A small minority of people are at risk of developing significant mental health conditions and will require specialised mental health care.
How can we help?
Donate to accredited disaster relief organisations
Send goods and supplies to loved ones in affected areas
Give blood
Volunteer to help
Consistently check in with your loved ones
Encourage people to seek help with counsellors if they are not improving
We sourced some of this information from the APS (Australian Psychological Society). We found this resource particularly helpful - Recovering from natural disasters.