La Nina hits NSW: The effect on flood residents this time around

New South Wales will see its third consecutive La Niña over the coming months, which will largely impact recovering victims of the February 2020 and March 2021 floods both mentally and financially.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning on September 13, confirming La Niña is underway in the Pacific Ocean. "Models indicate this La Niña event may peak during the spring and return to neutral conditions early in 2023," the bureau said.

"It is not uncommon to see La Niña occurring over two consecutive seasons. This happened as recently as 2020-22 and 2010-12. "However, it is rare to see three consecutive La Niña events.”

La Niña to bring more flooding to NSW. Image: Tara Bellwood.

The devastating effects of this extreme wet season could potentially have a lasting impact on individuals' mental health.

Research by the Black Dog Institute shows that the risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological distress, depression, and anxiety is heightened in flood-affected areas compared to unaffected areas.

Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission for NSW, Tim Heffernan is aware of the severe impact that the devastating weather events will have on mental health.

“I hear of people stressing out when the rain starts. With repeated events there is the risk of people developing heightened anxiety and PTSD”, he says.

Heffernan wants to communicate that there are ways of dealing with stress during extreme weather crises like these.

“My fear is that people might be overprescribed medications and there are some issues with that,” he says.

“People can put apps on their phones and reference them in times of stress. The Beyond

Now suicide safety planning app is good as it reminds people of the positives in life when they may be feeling low.”

The Albanese Government has promised a $13.1 million mental health support plan for flood victims. Image: AAP.

Links to websites and Apps such as Headspace and Beyond Blue can be found under the Flood section of the NSW Government website.

“From a non-clinical point of view one of the best things is the relationships between communities and the support from each other,” says Heffernan.

This is actively seen within town Facebook groups such as the Lismore town group that come together and talk about their worries surrounding La Nina and more floods.

One resident of flood-affected Lismore took to Facebook to express her frustrations, “I don’t sleep well when it's raining now, used to love the rain at night,” Tracey Peterson-Naisby told the Lismore community Facebook page.

Another resident, Deb Fisher, took to Facebook to express her concern about the recent Lismore flood warning, “Wow! That flood prediction for Lismore has really triggered me, with the fear of dying from the February flood! I’m struggling and I don’t think I’m the only one!” she said.

The NSW Labour Government has promised $13.1 million in targeted mental health support for communities impacted by the devastating recent floods.

The support plan will see $4 million used to establish a Head to Health satellite service in Hawkesbury and $3.4 million dedicated to funding the establishment of a new, permanent headspace service in a high-need location over the next four years.

From 2022-23, over $600,000 will be provided to the Southwestern Sydney, Southeastern NSW and Western Sydney Primary Health Networks to engage an Emergency Response Coordinator (ERC) in each region.

The ERCs will work with primary and mental health care providers, and with relevant state and local agencies, to help ensure impacted communities are able to access services.

"Access to appropriate mental health services has never been more important,” said Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler.

“I want to assure those impacted that help is available, and this additional investment will ensure there is more mental health support available in these communities.”