Bushfires, Social Connectedness and Mental Health

Grant number: LP100200164 | Funding period: 2011 - 2016

Completed

Abstract

The 2009 Victorian bushfires caused much loss of life, property destruction, and community disturbance. It is important for Promoting Better Health and Strengthening the Social and Economic Fabric that an accurate understanding is achieved of the factors that contribute to optimal recovery from natural disasters. This project will survey people affected by the fires over 5 years to both profile adaptation after the fires and to identify the individual and community processes that influence outcome. This project being undertaken in partnership by academic, disaster management, health and community organisations will provide crucial information for shaping policy for disaster management in the..

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Related publications (13)

Stressors and Supports in Postdisaster Recovery: Experiences After the Black Saturday Bushfires

Louise Harms, Lisa Gibbs, Greg Ireton, Colin MacDougall, Kate Brady, Lauren Kosta, Karen Block, Elyse Baker, H Colin Gallagher, Connie Kellett, David Forbes, Richard Bryant

2021-03-03

Many studies show that long-term poor mental health outcomes for disaster-affected people are predicted by postdisaster stressors...

The role of the natural environment in disaster recovery: "We live here because we love the bush"

Karen Block, Robyn Molyneaux, Lisa Gibbs, Nathan Alkemade, Elyse Baker, Colin MacDougall, Greg Ireton, David Forbes

2019-05-01

This mixed-methods study explored the role of connection to the natural environment in recovery from the 'Black Saturday' bushfire..

The effect of group involvement on post-disaster mental health: A longitudinal multilevel analysis

H Colin Gallagher, Karen Block, Lisa Gibbs, David Forbes, Dean Lusher, Robyn Molyneaux, John Richardson, Philippa Pattison, Colin MacDougall, Richard A Bryant

2019-01-01

Involvement in voluntary associations is a key form of social capital and plays an especially important role following disaster as..

Longitudinal study of changing psychological outcomes following the Victorian Black Saturday bushfires

Richard A Bryant, Lisa Gibbs, Hugh Colin Gallagher, Phillipa Pattison, Dean Lusher, Colin MacDougall, Louise Harms, Karen Block, Vikki Sinnott, Greg Ireton, John Richardson, David Forbes

2018-06-01

OBJECTIVES: To map the changing prevalence and predictors of psychological outcomes in affected communities 5 years following the ..

Distress and satisfaction with research participation: Impact on retention in longitudinal disaster research

Lisa Gibbs, Robyn Molyneaux, Sonia Whiteley, Karen Block, Louise Harms, Richard A Bryant, David Forbes, H Colin Gallagher, Colin MacDougall, Greg Ireton

2018-03-01

Previous studies of the impact of post-trauma research participation indicate that while the research experience may be emotional,..

Ethical Use and Impact of Participatory Approaches to Research in Post-Disaster Environments: An Australian Bushfire Case Study

L Gibbs, K Block, C MacDougall, L Harms, E Baker, J Richardson, G Ireton, HC Gallagher, R Bryant, D Lusher, P Pattison, J Watson, J Gillett, A Pirrone, R Molyneaux, S Sexton-Bruce, D Forbes

2018-01-01

This paper presents a case study of Beyond Bushfires, a large, multisite, mixed method study of the psychosocial impacts of major ..

Dyadic Effects of Attachment on Mental Health: Couples in a Postdisaster Context

H Colin Gallagher, Dean Lusher, Lisa Gibbs, Philippa Pattison, David Forbes, Karen Block, Louise Harms, Colin MacDougall, Connie Kellett, Greg Ireton, Richard A Bryant

2017-03-01

Research on mental health following disasters has led to the identification of many individual protective and risk factors for pos..

Mental Health and Social Networks After Disaster

Richard A Bryant, H Colin Gallagher, Lisa Gibbs, Philippa Pattison, Colin MacDougall, Louise Harms, Karen Block, Elyse Baker, Vikki Sinnott, Greg Ireton, John Richardson, David Forbes, Dean Lusher

2017-03-01

OBJECTIVE: Although disasters are a major cause of mental health problems and typically affect large numbers of people and communi..

Public testimony as a source of naturally occurring data: An ethical and rigorous approach to investigating resilience in the face of a natural disaster.

Gisela Van Kessell, Colin MacDougall, Lisa Gibbs

2017-01-01

Separation and reunification in disasters The importance of understanding the psychosocial consequences

John F Richardson, Elyse Baker, Hugh Colin Gallagher, Lisa Gibbs, Karen Block, Dean Lusher, Connie Kellett, Colin MacDougall, Louise Harms, Marita Smith

2017-01-01

Bringing together 26 case studies from six continents, this volume provides a unique resource which discusses, in considerable dep..

Mental Health Following Separation in a Disaster: The Role of Attachment

H Colin Gallagher, John Richardson, David Forbes, Louise Harms, Lisa Gibbs, Nathan Alkemade, Colin MacDougall, Elizabeth Waters, Karen Block, Dean Lusher, Elyse Baker, Richard A Bryant

2016-02-01

Short-term separation from close family members during a disaster is a highly salient event for those involved. Yet, its subsequen..

Children and young people's wellbeing post-disaster: Safety and stability are critical

L Gibbs, K Block, L Harms, C MacDougall, E Baker, G Ireton, D Forbes, J Richardson, E Waters

2015-12-01

Children, young people and parents from communities affected by the February 2009 bushfires in Victoria, Australia, were interview..

Conceptualising Post-Disaster Recovery: Incorporating Grief Experiences

Louise Harms, Karen Block, H Colin Gallagher, Lisa Gibbs, Richard A Bryant, Dean Lusher, John Richardson, Colin MacDougall, Elyse Baker, Vikki Sinnott, Greg Ireton, David Forbes, Connie Kellett, Elizabeth Waters

2015-12-01

In the disaster literature, psycho-social recovery is conceptualised typically as the alleviation of traumatic stress, with the al..

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