What our experts say about the impact of bushfires on mental health
To assist the community, beyondblue has compiled a series of interviews with beyondblue experts in child, adolescent and adult mental health and General Practice. The interviews contain advice on taking care of mental health following the Victorian bushfire disaster. Individual questions can be clicked on to play audio of the interview. Transcripts of the interviews are available at the bottom of each set of questions.
Effects of the bushfire on children
Professor Brett McDermott is a beyondblue Director and child and adolescent mental health expert who has worked on several studies into the impact of bushfires and other natural disasters on young people. Dr McDermott worked closely with children after the bushfires in Canberra in 2003 and Sydney in 1994.
To read this interview, click here.
To download a PDF of this interview, click here. 
For information from the Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network on children and bushfires click here.
Effects of the bushfire on people who are grieving or have suffered loss and the wider community
Associate Professor Michael Baigent is beyondblue's Clinical Advisor. Dr Baigent is a practising clinical psychiatrist and currently works at the Faculty of Mental Health at Flinders University in Adelaide.
To read this interview, click here.
To download a PDF o this interview, click here.
To download beyondblue's fact sheet on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder click here.
To download beyondblue's fact sheet on Grief, loss and depression click here.
The role of the General Practitioner following a disaster
Doctor Grant Blashki is a member of beyondblue's Clinical Advisory Committee. He specialises in research into General Practice.
To read this interview, click here.
To download a PDF of this interview, click here.
To download beyondblue's fact sheet Help for depression under Medicare click here.
If you are in crisis, call Mensline Australia 1800 789 978 or Lifeline 13 11 14.
