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Australia announces mental health funding for bushfire victims
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IANS | 13 Jan, 2020
The Australian government has
announced 76 million Australian dollars ($52.4 million) in funding for
mental health services in bushfire-affected communities.
Prime
Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday that the funding would
cover free counselling sessions, health consultations and rebates for 10
psychological therapy sessions via Medicare, Australia's universal
public healthcare system, Xinhua reported on Monday.
"These bushfires have been unprecedented in their scale, coverage and duration," he said.
"They
have also taken a traumatic emotional toll on our people. We need to
ensure the trauma and mental health needs of our people are supported in
a way like we never have before."
At least 28 people have died and more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed across the country in bushfires.
"We
know that trauma and tragedy are deeply linked with mental health
impacts and what we're seeing now is that people are in the early phases
of recovery and response," Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
"Initial early treatment for mental health can make a very significant long-term difference.
"But
even then, in three or six months, post-traumatic stress can emerge,
and so early action is vitally important but also to be there over the
medium and the long term."
An inquiry into the 2009 Black
Saturday bushfires, the most deadly bushfires in Australian history,
found that mental health impacts persisted for five years after the
disaster for some victims.
Christine Morgan, the head of the National Mental Health Commission, welcomed the funding announcement.
"This is a particularly distressing time for everyone across the country," she told News Corp Australia.
"Because
of this, it is important that the mental health and wellbeing of
Australians is supported immediately, as well as providing ongoing
long-term interventions."
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