The dynamic course of psychological outcomes following the Victorian Black Saturday bushfires.
Richard A BryantLisa GibbsH Colin GallagherPhillipa PattisonDean LusherColin MacDougallLouise HarmsKaren BlockGreg IretonJohn RichardsonDavid ForbesRobyn MolyneauxMeaghan O'DonnellPublished in: The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry (2020)
Approximately one-fifth of people from high-affected areas have a probable psychological disorder a decade after the fires. Mental health appears to fluctuate for those who are not consistently resilient, apparently as a result of ongoing stressors. The observation that most people with probable disorder are not receiving care highlights the need for further planning about managing long-term mental health needs of disaster-affected communities.