In the immediate aftermath of bushfire, we tend to focus on the practical challenges of rebuilding and replacing, and navigating insurance. However, in the weeks and months following, as routines resume and there is greater opportunity for reflection, many people can face ongoing anxiety, grief and trauma responses.
Following the major bushfires experienced across Victoria in early 2026, Collected Minds Mental Health Social Worker Dan King explores how bushfires can impact mental health, common emotional responses to disaster, and practical strategies to support wellbeing during recovery. Dan also shares guidance on when to seek additional support, and how to access help if you or someone you know is struggling.
Following on from Dan King’s discussion in the webinar, this resource from Dr. Dan Siegel explains the Hand Model of the Brain - a simple and powerful way to understand how the brain responds to stress and emotional triggers.
Using the image of an open hand to represent different brain regions (for example, the fingers as the prefrontal cortex and the thumb as the amygdala), the model shows how higher-order thinking and self-regulation can “switch off” under stress, while survival responses take over.
This is often described as “flipping your lid,” and helps explain why people may feel reactive, overwhelmed, anxious, or shut down during and after traumatic events like a bushfire.
The Your Recovery section is part of Phoenix Australia’s trauma-focused resources, designed to help people understand and navigate the emotional and psychological effects of traumatic events - including natural disasters, accidents, violence, and other life-altering experiences. It explains how trauma can affect mental health, outlines common reactions such as anxiety, depression or PTSD, and offers information on supporting yourself and others. The section also links to practical resources on coping strategies, recognizing trauma responses, finding help, and accessing clinical support. Phoenix Australia itself is Australia’s National Centre of Excellence in Posttraumatic Mental Health, providing evidence-based information, research, and guidance on trauma recovery and wellbeing.
The Looking after your wellbeing following a bushfire resource from Emerging Minds focuses on the importance of parental and family wellbeing in the aftermath of a bushfire and how this supports children’s mental health and recovery. It offers guidance and tips to help adults care for their own physical and emotional wellbeing — recognising that coping with loss, stress, grief, and ongoing uncertainty is a normal response to a traumatic event.
The resource emphasises that looking after yourself isn’t indulgent but essential, especially when caring for children, and includes practical suggestions for nurturing routines, connection, self-compassion, and seeking professional support when needed. It was developed with input from people with lived experience, practitioners and researchers, and also connects to other practical guides on supporting children after a bushfire.
The Natural Disasters section of Lifeline Australia’s Support Toolkit helps people understand how extreme weather events — such as bushfires, floods, droughts, and heatwaves — can affect mental health and wellbeing, both immediately and over the longer term. It explains common emotional and psychological responses like anxiety, grief, stress, loneliness, and trauma, and highlights how natural disasters can worsen existing mental health challenges.
The resource offers practical information on recognising how you’re feeling, managing stress, preparing mentally for future events, and finding short-term and long-term support. It also connects users with tools, apps, and strategies to build resilience, as well as crisis support options including Lifeline’s dedicated 13 HELP bushfire and extreme weather line.
The Coping After a Crisis section of Australian Red Cross provides practical information and support for people dealing with the emotional and personal impacts of a disaster or crisis — including bushfires, floods, or other traumatic events. It outlines common reactions such as shock, fear, anger, grief, and stress, and explains that these responses are normal after an abnormal event. The page offers guidance on how to look after yourself and others, build routines, stay connected, and manage daily stress during recovery. It also points people toward helpful services and support options, and emphasises the importance of seeking help if feelings become overwhelming or interfere with everyday life.
The resource is designed to help individuals, families, and communities navigate the psychological and social aftermath of a crisis while reinforcing that recovery is a process and support is available.