Climate disasters don’t just destroy homes—they erode mental health

Climate disasters don’t just destroy homes—they erode mental health

The findings? The more disasters people face, the worse their mental health becomes—and the harder it is to bounce back.

The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, used 10 years of nationally representative data to track Australians who experienced one, two, or even three disasters between 2009 and 2019. Researchers found that mental health scores—measured using a validated five-item mental health inventory—dropped after each disaster. After a first disaster, scores declined modestly, but after a second, the decline was sharper and recovery was slower. By the third disaster, recovery was often absent altogether.

The proximity between disasters also mattered. People who experienced a second disaster within two years of the first showed significantly worse mental health than those who had a longer break between events. The implication? Time doesn’t just heal—it cushions. When that space is missing, people’s ability to recover weakens.

Importantly, the study also mapped out who was most vulnerable. Some risk factors—like having a long-term health condition or poor social support—consistently predicted worse mental health outcomes, regardless of how many disasters a person had faced. Others became more pronounced with repeated exposure. Women, younger adults, people in rural areas, renters, and those on lower incomes were especially at risk during second or third disasters.

For example, renters were found to recover more slowly than homeowners, likely due to housing insecurity and disrupted social networks. Rural residents—already less likely to have access to mental health services—faced steeper declines after consecutive disasters. And while older adults appeared to be more resilient, possibly due to stronger emotional regulation and life experience, younger people were hit harder both initially and over time.

The findings show that disaster response systems built for “one-off” events may not be enough. Mental health support that’s short-term or generic doesn’t cut it when disasters pile up. The authors call for long-term, tailored strategies that recognise cumulative exposure—especially in communities already facing disadvantage.

Social support stood out as a powerful protective factor. Those with stronger networks showed smaller declines in mental health, even after multiple disasters. This points to the potential of community-based programs that strengthen connection and resilience before disaster strikes again.

With Australia expected to experience more frequent and intense climate disasters, the insights show that future planning must take into account not just the physical, but the long-lasting psychological toll of a climate-changed world.