March 29, 2023
PTSD sets in as cyclone relief drags
National Party health spokesperson Shane Reti believes people affected by recent extreme flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle could be showing symptoms of PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder.
He says people are reporting fatigue and despair, or lashing out in anger at what they see as slow or ineffective government responses.
He says the extent of mental distress probably won’t be known for some time as the government focuses on immediate recovery.
0:00 That’s not clear0:00…post-traumatic stress disorder.That’s not clear to me, I think we’re focusing on their physical needs – a roof over their heads, keeping warm… not far behind that in an ideal world, in parallel, would be the obvious – social and mental impacts on an event of that type… for want of a better word their post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dr Reti says the government will need to a comprehensive plan for the future.