New research, released today by NRMA Insurance highlights the mental health impacts of Australia's changing climate, with 80% of Australians surveyed stating they feel anxious about the impact of extreme weather.
The research findings, that feature in the latest edition of the NRMA Insurance Wild Weather Tracker, coincide with an increased demand for critical mental health support related to natural disasters with Lifeline Australia seeing a 25% increase in calls to its dedicated disaster recovery helpline 13HELP, receiving more than 430,000 calls over the past 3 years.
To help Australians mentally and emotionally prepare for and recover from these extreme weather events, NRMA Insurance and Lifeline Australia have created a range of online resilience resources. The natural disaster content includes information and tools that people can access to build resilience and manage their wellbeing. The Toolkit provides actions people can take before, during and after an extreme weather event, including:
- Practical strategies to manage stress and cope with uncertainty;
- What to do if things are getting to be too much; and
- Where to find tools, apps, and support services to help you move forward.
With Australians most likely to turn to family members (51%) to seek help for their mental health when extreme weather strikes, the resources also provide information and tools to guide people who are helping someone else in need.
Video grabs of Lifeline’s Wellbeing Lead, Dr Ally Nicolopoulos and vision of the Toolkit can be accessed via the link below:
Media link: https://f.io/WxXNAJ2X
All info below and attached.
80% of Australians feel anxious about the impact of extreme weather
- Concern is highest amongst young people, 18 – 24, with 90% anxious about the impact of wild weather
- Whilst 86% of people who live in areas at high-risk of extreme weather events are anxious about the impacts.
- Australians are most likely to turn to family members (51%) to seek help for their mental health when extreme weather strikes.
- The findings coincide with a surge in demand for crisis mental health support related to natural disasters
- Lifeline’s dedicated disaster recovery helpline 13HELP has received more than 430,000 calls over the past three years.
- Building emotional resilience is now as important as being physically prepared.
- NRMA Insurance and Lifeline Australia have co-created a new online disaster resilience resource. The online content includes information and tools that provide actionable steps to build resilience and proactively manage wellbeing.
- The NRMA Insurance Wild Weather Tracker – Autumn 2024 also reveals NRMA Insurance received 9,647 claims for wild weather damage to homes and vehicles nationally during autumn.
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- 7,979 severe weather home claims (52.8% of all home claims)
- 1,668 severe weather motor claims (2.4% of all motor claims)
More information can be found in the attached media release.
Key Facts:
NRMA Insurance and Lifeline Australia have created online resilience resources to support increased need for mental health care.
Anxiety is highest amongst young people (18 – 24), with 90% anxious about the impact of extreme weather.
About us:
About the Wild Weather Tracker
The NRMA Insurance Wild Weather Tracker monitors severe weather claims across New South Wales, Queensland, the ACT, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania and is released after every season to encourage people to take regular steps to protect their homes, properties, vehicles and communities. Online research of 3,500 people across NSW (1,000), QLD (1,000), the ACT (500), SA (500) and WA (500) was conducted on behalf of NRMA Insurance by Pureprofile in May 2024.
Contact details:
Paul Wickham
Boxing Clever
M: 0412 398 489
E: pwickham@boxingclever.net.au
