Mental health and wellbeing

People may experience grief or stress after a disaster like a bushfire. Sometimes the impact is obvious straight away, but often it is a slow process. Some impacts include shock, anger, depression, tension, irritability, anxiety or difficulty making decisions.

Regional Access offers free professional telephone and online counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people 15 years and older living or working in regional South Australia.

Phone 1300 032 186 for immediate support or visit the Regional Access website and follow the links for online counselling.

Find out more about mental health support services after a disaster:

• Disasters and mental health support (SA Health)
• Medicines for people affected by the Kangaroo Island and Cudlee Creek bushfires (SA Health)
• Supporting mental health recovery in the community after a disaster (PDF 312 KB)
• Mental health recovery after a disaster: community fact sheet (PDF 125 KB)
• Supporting mental health recovery in the community after a disaster: service provider fact sheet (PDF 106 KB)

Mental health support resources by region:

• Mental health support - Cudlee Creek (PDF 94.3 KB)
• Mental health support - Kangaroo Island (PDF 93.9 KB)
• Mental health support - Yorke Peninsula (PDF 94.8 KB)

Mental health resources for children

Emergencies and disasters are extremely stressful and it is normal for children, even infants, to feel overwhelmed. Emerging Minds has developed a Community Trauma Toolkit to help adults and children understand the impacts of disaster and how to help lessen these impacts.

Related information

Emotional recovery