What is it?
A disaster can include heatwaves, bushfires, droughts, floods, severe storms and tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides. Disasters can affect your emotions and mental health. They can also make mental health and drug and alcohol issues worse. It can be hard to look after yourself and feel well when a disaster happens. If you need help with your mental health during this time, you can talk to your GP and access support.
What will my GP do?
Talking to your GP is a good first step. They will let you know what you can do to feel better during this time.
What can I do?
There are some things you can do during this time to feel better, including:
- Talking with friends and family
- Establish and keep up with a daily routine
- Do things to help you relax
- Prepare yourself for times when you might not feel good, many people experience this after a disaster