Emotional support for bushfire affected people

If you have been affected by the bushfires it is important to take care of your emotional wellbeing. Sometimes, in emergencies we can overlook the day to day basics of looking after ourselves. The following information provides practical advice about coping with the emotional issues resulting from the impact of the bushfires.

If you feel affected by bushfire or the loss of a loved one, you are encouraged to talk to your GP, or one of the 24-hour telephone help lines, or specialist counselling and support services available.

The following fact sheets from the Better Health Channel may help:

Telephone counselling services

Free telephone counselling services staffed by trained volunteers include:

Lifeline
Parentline
Kids Helpline

Coping with loss & grief

The Better Health Channel has a range of fact sheets available to help people coping with loss and grief.

Support group program

The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB) offers a range of services and assistance to people who have been affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires, including the Kids Grieve Too (KG2) bushfire support groups.