Project Details
Description
The primary aim of this pilot project is to assist rural young persons who are experiencing distress following exposure to a natural disaster, such as fire, drought and/or flood, as well as to build resilience. Specifically, this project aims to pilot a novel mental health and resilience intervention for disaster-impacted young people (16-18 years) living in rural NSW.
Climate change continues to accelerate and Australia is seeing a rapid increase in intensity, frequency and severity of climate-related hazards (IPCC, 2014). Exposure to natural hazards has repeatedly been shown to adversely impact mental health (e.g., Bryant et al., 2014). Young people are especially vulnerable to such events, being at an age when many psychological disorders first present (APA, 2013), and also having fewer coping resources (Tanaka et al., 2016). Additionally, the mental health of young people living in rural areas is already poorer than their city-dwelling counterparts (AIHW, 2021), and those in rural areas are also more likely to be exposed to future adverse climate change-related events. Accordingly, rural young people are especially vulnerable to poorer mental health following adverse weather events, as shown in our pilot data. As climate change worsens, repeated exposure to such events is inevitable (IPCC, 2018), underscoring the urgent need to promote mental health and resilience in our communities. Currently, there is a lack of dedicated and evidence-based programs for addressing mental health in relation to climate change and related exposure to natural hazards.
In taking the best available evidence for resilience interventions and emerging evidence around ecotherapy, combined with end-user and local service provider knowledge, this project produces a novel intervention that responds to a gap in current service provision. This project is designed for rural NSW, thus ensuring viability for wider implementation. The project has the strong likelihood to enhance the resilience and mental health of rural communities.
Climate change continues to accelerate and Australia is seeing a rapid increase in intensity, frequency and severity of climate-related hazards (IPCC, 2014). Exposure to natural hazards has repeatedly been shown to adversely impact mental health (e.g., Bryant et al., 2014). Young people are especially vulnerable to such events, being at an age when many psychological disorders first present (APA, 2013), and also having fewer coping resources (Tanaka et al., 2016). Additionally, the mental health of young people living in rural areas is already poorer than their city-dwelling counterparts (AIHW, 2021), and those in rural areas are also more likely to be exposed to future adverse climate change-related events. Accordingly, rural young people are especially vulnerable to poorer mental health following adverse weather events, as shown in our pilot data. As climate change worsens, repeated exposure to such events is inevitable (IPCC, 2018), underscoring the urgent need to promote mental health and resilience in our communities. Currently, there is a lack of dedicated and evidence-based programs for addressing mental health in relation to climate change and related exposure to natural hazards.
In taking the best available evidence for resilience interventions and emerging evidence around ecotherapy, combined with end-user and local service provider knowledge, this project produces a novel intervention that responds to a gap in current service provision. This project is designed for rural NSW, thus ensuring viability for wider implementation. The project has the strong likelihood to enhance the resilience and mental health of rural communities.
Funding
Funder: Peregrine Centre
Award Value: $41,666
Award Value: $41,666
| Status | Finished |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 1/07/23 → 30/04/24 |
Collaborative partners
- Hunter, New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network
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