Pandemic impacts and experiences after disaster: A compound disaster perspective

In 2020, the National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) produced a National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan. This outlined expectations that the COVID-19 pandemic would pose significant challenges for all Australians, including those associated with mental health issues, economic adversity and disruptive changes to lifestyles of individuals and families. Furthermore, the plan identified priority population groups that were expected to experience additional forms of intersecting vulnerability. These included people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, as well as those experiencing compound disaster trauma.

The NHMC subsequently commissioned a range of research projects that were intended to support their role in monitoring progress against the 2020 plan and inform planning of support for these priority populations. These included a project that explored the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated public health restrictions, on the mental health and wellbeing of people experiencing compound disaster trauma. This is being conducted currently by Phoenix Australia.