Mental health services
From a Primary Health Care perspective, the management of simple public health measures is important, but the main issue from the floods and the cyclone has been mental health.
Loss of property, a family home, a business or other things frequently affected by severe weather (including, importantly, loss of sense of well-being and security) are all things that can traumatise people for years after an event has happened. Many people whose lives have been affected by the floods or cyclone will need counselling or other mental health services for a long time to come.
The RFDS provides a broad range of comprehensive primary health care services to approximately 800 people every week across Queensland, including Mental Health and Social/Emotional Wellbeing services. Not only is this something we do every day, but we were also involved in post-Cyclone Larry efforts, so we were perfectly placed to respond to those communities who needed us most.
Read more about RFDS mental health services.
Pictured: RFDS Cairns Base mental health team travel to Cardwell to provide counselling and emotional support to victims of Cyclone Yasi. From left to right: Helma Quinn-Leeman, Joe Cashman, Jill Cutler and Renee McMerrin at Cardwell recovery centre.