Climate Trauma:

The growing toll of climate change on the mental health of Australians

There is no doubt that the consequences of climate change are now playing out in real time across Australia. While rigorous research has taught us a tremendous amount about the physical risks of climate change, far less attention has been paid to the impact of climate change on our mental health and the fabric of our communities.

This new national study has deepened our understanding of the impacts of climate change on mental health in Australia and provided an opportunity to hear from those on the front line of the climate crisis about how to better prepare for and respond to future disasters.

Their stories are presented here.

“I don’t know how we can do this again.”

“Our middle child has a diagnosis of ASD-Level 2 and Anxiety. The storm and its aftermath significantly heightened his anxiety to the point of meltdowns, sleep disruptions and a stress reaction to any rain events.

“We’ve learnt lessons from 2022, but I don’t know how we can move things early, or get access to extra resources.”

“In June 2021 whilst in lockdown we experienced a severe storm that felled 25,000 trees, we were then without phone, internet and power for almost two weeks. During this time I felt extreme fear however I have a tendency to disassociate and remained in shock for the months to follow. I then went on to seek mental health support through my GP and am now seeing a psychologist. Since this time we have had more storms, landslides and floods. We have decided to move, reluctantly, however we are aware this may not keep us safe from events they will just be different.”

“I am hyper aware now of the changing climate and worry about the future my child will live in.

“I am also very connected to my local community and we are doing all I can to look out for each other. I feel more connected locally however I am aware that Government is relatively inert when it comes to being prepared for weather events and disasters.”

“Recalling that time, hearing helicopters, seeing and smelling smoke, and driving past ruined bushland can still occasionally bring me to tears. Having our house, and seeing many others, restored and seeing the return of much of nature has helped to lessen the impact.”

“We need a massive shift from the government who continues to subsidise fossil fuels. We need urgent changes to federal and state laws to ensure robust biodiversity plans are in place to help heal country. Each event builds on the next and life is clinging round the edges… We need a massive increase in funding for mental health services. We need to stop all fossil fuels, that includes gas, and stop fracking everywhere before we destroy the Artesian Basin, the Pilliga. We need to engage with, fund and support First Nation tribes to help them heal country and to listen, and follow the scientific community’s advice urgently.

“We need the federal and state governments to massively ramp up investment in planning cities and regional areas knowing 1 in 1000-year floods can now happen in an area twice in a month. We need much more robust post emergency funding and infrastructure. We still have people living in caravans from the Black Summer Bushfires. We need to do so much and there is no more time to waste. Every action matters and we need it all immediately. We should have a solid plan to get to net zero by 2030.”

“It was six weeks of smoke inhalation whilst protecting my own and neighbours’ properties, and working as an RFS volunteer. This required relocating to Sydney, away from farm and smoke, to convalesce severely inflamed lungs. Prior to the fires, I experienced drought (decided to de-stock property of my small herd of cattle) followed by flood (trapped by flooded creeks and unable to return home for a week….slept in the car).”

“Smoke smells trigger slight anxiety, especially if they are unexpected.”

“We physically bailed for 2 days to keep the water out of the house, which was exhausting both physically and mentally and we still lost the battle. That’s when the despair hit.”

“At the time, my children were under 18, and felt devastated about the loss of habitat and other impacts on our native wildlife as we were caring for many animals injured during the bushfires.”

“I feared the unknown – How far were the waters going to rise? What were we going to do? How close were the bushfires going to get? How could I get my asthma under control? How was our community going to recover after so many major catastrophes? We have already had several major floods and bushfires and the government’s response has been pathetic.”

“The SES doesn’t have enough boats or equipment, we don’t have enough trained volunteers, people have been living in tents for months, and we know this is going to happen again.  People risked their lives saving the lives of others, where is the support for them?  What’s going to happen next time?”