A range of mental health and wellbeing specialists and service providers will meet to ensure that South Australians impacted by the recent bushfires receive appropriate support and care.
Friday's meeting will bring key government agencies and non-government organisations together to look at opportunities to strengthen South Australia's natural disaster resilience response.
"As bushfires continue to burn around Australia, it's critical we act now so that South Australian communities are getting the support they need," Health Minister Stephen Wade said.
"It's important that we determine what supports are currently in place and identify what gaps need to be filled.
Bushfires swepping through Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide. Source: AAP
"These tragic bushfires are likely to have a long-lasting effect on some people's mental health and wellbeing, and early intervention can reduce the impact."
Mr Wade said studies showed communities come together strongly in the face of disaster and connect with each other over their common experiences but often find it extremely difficult later as the reality sinks in and the hard work of recovery takes time.
"We want affected communities to know that we will work to ensure that services are available to support their mental health and wellbeing, well beyond the time when the firefighting effort is over," he said.
Wellbeing SA chief executive Lyn Dean said a whole-of-community response was needed to ensure support was provided to people living in communities that had been directly affected, as well as other South Australians who might be distressed.
"We are such a close-knit community and even South Australians not exposed to frontline impacts may benefit from support to strengthen and maintain their mental health," Ms Dean said.
Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat after bushfires swept through the area. Source: AAP
The work of this roundtable group will support the actions already being undertaken by the state's recovery coordination teams who are providing practical immediate assistance.
Organisations such as the Australian Red Cross and the SA Housing Authority have provided first response support, which has included counselling as well as clothing and food for people displaced by the fires.
Readers seeking support with mental health can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. More information is available at
