Tips for coping after a natural disaster
The pathway to recovery after a natural disaster
If you’ve been through a natural disaster, you probably know the toll it can take on your wellbeing, even long after the event. While everyone’s path to recovery will be different, we know that communities will go through some typical stages, emotions, and reactions during this time.
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Looking after your mental wellbeing after a natural disaster
When you’re cleaning up the mess after a natural disaster, it’s easy to neglect your wellbeing and put everyone’s needs ahead of your own. But to look after your loved ones and your community, you also have to take care of yourself. Here are some no-nonsense tips and tools you can add into your routine, no matter how busy you are.
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Getting through a natural disaster
Going through a natural disaster can be stressful and scary, and right now, you may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, tired, angry, hōhā, sad, or something else entirely. However you’re feeling, it’s perfectly normal. If you can, take things day by day or hour by hour, and remember you’re doing the best you can. - print ready file
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Getting through a natural disaster (accessible)
Information and advice in alternate formats, including large print versions, Braille, audio file, and NZSL video.
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Getting through a natural disaster (more languages)
Information and advice in English, Māori, Samoan, Fijian, Tongan, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Bislama, and Solomon Islands Pijin.
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After the Storm – Coping tips for farming and rural communities
Coping tips for farming and rural communities
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Preliminary research findings into community wellbeing after Cyclone Gabrielle
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A kōrero with Dr Sarb Johal, part 1: Dealing with uncertainty, survivor’s guilt, and all sorts of emotions right now
With communities around Aotearoa still reeling from the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events, we spoke with clinical psychologist Dr Sarb Johal on looking after ourselves and our loved ones during this time.
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A kōrero with Dr Sarb Johal, part 2: On dealing with climate anxiety and finding a sense of calm again
We asked Dr Sarb for tips on managing fear and stress, coping with increased feelings of climate anxiety, and more.
Tips
Supporting yourself and your loved ones during the disaster aftermath
Everyone responds differently in these situations and at their own pace, too. It’s important to remember that feeling all sorts of emotions in difficult situations is absolutely normal and human.
Tips
Top tip: When your feelings are overwhelming, ‘Name it to tame it’
It’s easy to blame ourselves for how we feel or even tell ourselves we should be feeling a different way, but shaming or squashing our feelings makes us feel worse.