SynthesisEuropean journal of psychotraumatology2022
The long-term impact of bushfires on the mental health of Australians: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in European journal of psychotraumatology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 63 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Impact of Natural Disasters on Adult Mental Health: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.Research in nursing & health · 2026Pooled it
- Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke Exposure.Annual review of medicine · 2024Pooled it
- Health risk assessment of wildfire smoke exposure: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.Systematic reviews · 2026Article
- Approach to wildfire-related health impacts.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2026Review
- Psychosocial impacts of a mouse plague and ongoing psychological stress.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Resilience and sense of agency among healthcare professionals during crisis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Observational
- Preparing to Play With Fire: Exploring Bushfire Preparedness and Risk Communication Among University Students in Australia.Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals · 2025Article
- Review
- Extreme Weather, Vulnerable Populations, and Mental Health: The Timely Role of AI Interventions.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Transforming Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine to Address the Climate Crisis: A Call for Strategic Research and Advocacy.Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine · 2025Article
- What do Climate Change, Nutrition, and the Environment Have to do With Mental Health?American journal of lifestyle medicine · 2024Review
- A Community Mental Health Integrated Disaster Preparedness Intervention for Bushfire Recovery in Rural Australian Communities: Protocol for a Multimethods Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot Study.JMIR research protocols · 2024Article
- A 'Vocal Locals' social network campaign is associated with increased frequency of conversations about mental health and improved engagement in wellbeing-promoting activities in an Australian farming community.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Psychotropic Medication Prescriptions and Large California Wildfires.JAMA network open · 2024Article
- Taking a trauma and adversity perspective to climate change mental health.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2024Article
- Environmental pollution and extreme weather conditions: insights into the effect on mental health.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2024Review
- Exploring the use of masks for protection against the effects of wildfire smoke among people with preexisting respiratory conditions.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Climate change, environmental extremes, and human health in Australia: challenges, adaptation strategies, and policy gaps.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2023Review
- A Review of Artificial Neural Network Models Applied to Predict Indoor Air Quality in Schools.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Review
- Impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental health of older Australians: a cross-sectional survey.Family practice · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The long-term health effects of bushfires include the potential to trigger new and exacerbate existing mental health problems. Objective: This review aimed to determine the prevalence of long-term mental health issues in Australian populations exposed to bushfires. Method: A systematic search was conducted in five databases (Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science) to identify studies focusing on Australian populations impacted by bushfires with the prevalence of mental health issues reported at 2+ years after bushfire. The Joanna Briggs Institute prevalence critical appraisal tool was utilised. We conducted meta-analyses to determine the prevalence of general psychological distress in the general population, and a narrative synthesis. Results: We included 21 articles based on 5 studies and conducted on 3 bushfire events. Meta-analyses showed a pooled prevalence of 14% (95% CI 12%-16%) for psychological distress in the general population at 2-4 years post bushfire. The overall prevalence of long-term psychological problems in firefighters at 2-7 years ranged from 28% to 47.6%. The prevalence of some psychological issues decreased with time and was directly proportional to the level of bushfire impact. Conclusions: As the magnitude of long-term bushfire-related mental health impacts in Australia is severe, it is important to monitor psychological problems and assist communities in future. Future research needs include: (a) more studies on the full range of long-term psychological impacts of bushfires, and (b) consensus on instruments and diagnostic criteria to define mental health issues. HIGHLIGHTS: First systematic review of long-term bushfire mental health issues in Australia.Indicating substantial mental health problems among affected populations.Long-term issues were linked to bushfire impact and elevated among firefighters.Highlighting need for further rigorous research on long-term disaster sequalae.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.