The recent floods in NSW have led to calls for better long-term flood relief in healthcare, particularly in mental health. Many GPs in affected areas noted the ongoing demand for support due to the floods. A report by Doctors for the Environment Australia indicates that climate change impacts, like floods, worsen mental health problems in regions.
DEA spokesperson and psychiatrist, Dr Cybele Dey, told TMR, “We need to make sure that these mental health services are not just [funded] in the month after there’s been an event, but that actually there’s support for local ongoing mental healthcare that’s based on the best available evidence.”