Research suggests people who are forced to relocate after a bushfire are at a higher risk of PTSD.

Researchers spoke with people affected by the 2005 “Black Tuesday” Eyre Peninsula bushfires, which took nine lives, destroyed 93 homes and blackened 80,000 hectares of land near Port Lincoln on 11 January, 2005.

Associate Professor Venkatesan Thiruvenkatarajan from the University of Adelaide’s Discipline of Acute Care Medicine led the study. 

He says understanding that relocating after bushfires was a trigger for PTSD is important in providing support services for those affected.

“Relocation was a significant factor in predicting PTSD at the six-month and two-year marks, while after seven years, personal loss, including damage and the destruction of property, was the key component,” said Associate Professor Thiruvenkatarajan, who is also a Senior Consultant Anaesthetist at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“People who relocate after a bushfire should be carefully assessed and supported to reduce PTSD.

“These individuals need to be monitored over time and offered psychological support to prevent long-term psychopathology issues. Those who suffer from personal loss also need to be monitored on a long-term basis and adequately supported to compensate for the loss of loved ones.

“Implementing outreach programs where victims can have access to a general practitioner or psychiatrist or psychologist will be useful for their short-term mental health. Psychological issues after a natural disaster can be delayed or manifest into something more serious if not treated early.”

One-hundred and seventy-nine people were recruited for the initial study six months after the bushfires, with 103 and 87 people completing the two-year and seven-year follow ups respectively.

Co-author Dr Richard Watts witnessed the bushfires first-hand having lived in Port Lincoln for almost 20 years.

“We found that 13.4 per cent of people had PTSD six months after the bushfire, 10.7 per cent two years after, and 4.8 per cent after seven years,” Associate Professor Watts said.

“Participants were asked about how close they were to the fire, whether they defended themselves and/or their homes, whether they were trapped and/or injured, and their emotional experience.

“These findings can hopefully lead to greater support for people who have to live through a bushfire.”

The full study is accessible here.