Government announces mental health funding to tackle bushfire trauma

The federal government will put $76 million into emergency mental health services for bushfire-affected communities, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison pointing to the widespread trauma caused by the unprecedented crisis.

Smoke from the massive bushfires in eastern
 Victoria and NSW engulfs Melbourne.

The "initial" mental health funding will go to counselling sessions, extra psychological treatment under Medicare, expanded access to telehealth remote counselling, specialist trauma care for emergency services personnel, local community wellbeing programs and Headspace youth centres in significantly impacted communities.

Read the story from The Age by Fergus Hunter - “Government announces mental health funding to tackle bushfire trauma.”