Emotional distress and depression in children and adolescents following Australian bushfire disasters

TL;DRAbstract

Given the evidence from epidemiological studies of a substantial unmet child & adolescent mental health service need, it is typical that children with mental health symptoms following a natural disaster are not routinely provided an intervention. However, following a devastating Australian natural disaster the author directed an innovative inter-sectoral response. Proactive, school-based screening for post-disaster mental health sequelae was seen as a way of identifying school-age children with persisting disaster related symptoms. Identified children were offered a targeted mental health intervention. The intervention, a guided trauma workbook for children and group therapy program for adolescents proved to be acceptable to children, parents and teachers as well as being cost effective. Major study investigations included the emotional responses of Primary and High School children, the proportion of children whose responses met case criteria for emotional trauma or depression and

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