Mental health key consideration in flood emergency response

The South Australian Government has committed $1 million to ensure Riverland community members directly or indirectly affected by flood can access appropriate mental health support.

Many individuals and business owners will experience prolonged periods of stress while preparing, enduring, and recovering from flood.

This new package recognises this heightened anxiety, providing increased specialist and early intervention mental health services to offer immediate support and minimise the long-term mental health impacts for people of all ages.

The first steps in the SA Floods Mental Health Response will include:

• More psychological and mental health nursing services to assist the community
• Increased psychiatrist support via telehealth
• More child mental health support, with additional staff to provide assessment, care plans and therapeutic interventions
• Community resilience and wellbeing programs to be run throughout affected communities to support and maintain mental wellbeing
• A number of existing community programs will be expanded, with extra support to the Mid-Murray Suicide Prevention Network and Riverland Community Suicide Prevention Network.

Additional programs will be announced as the flood crisis continues. For more information, and to see the other support available, visit sa.gov.au/floods or call the River Murray Flood Relief line on 1800 302 787.

There is immediate mental health support available – visit the SA Health website to access help now, while the SA Floods Mental Health Response is being established.