Embedding nature-based health strategies into disaster recovery and resilience planning for a scalable, evidence-based, and cost-effective model.
4C – Good things in tough times
The increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters are having profound impacts on human health, with mental health emerging as one of the greatest challenges. It has been suggested that the climate emergency may prove to be this century’s greatest public health threat, with mental health requiring specific attention. Research shows that one in four people exposed to a climate change-related disaster meets criteria for PTSD, while young people, in particular, are experiencing rising levels of eco-anxiety.
However, the research confirms that, even amidst deep loss and grief, a strong attachment to the natural environment is a powerful predictor of long-term recovery and resilience. This reinforces the role of nature not only in healing, but also in supporting communities to rebuild their sense of hope and belonging.
This presentation will share firsthand experiences of those who have endured immense loss, alongside the perspectives of frontline responders in bushfire and flood recovery. It will explore how the Snowy Valleys Nature Wellness Drive, a community-led initiative co-designed with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District and NatureFix, has provided opportunities for stress relief, reconnection, and resilience building. Its success has since evolved into a structured therapeutic program, now being trialled in clinical settings for people experiencing acute mental health challenges, such as PTSD.
Importantly, as climate impacts intensify, embedding nature-based health strategies into disaster recovery and resilience planning offers a scalable, evidence-based, and cost-effective model. So, in tough times, remembering the “good things” in nature helps us heal, adapt, and find strength.
Watch the video from the presentation here.
