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Southern Qld flood victims get mental health support

By Chrissy Arthur, Wednesday February 22, 2012 - 10:21 EDT

Teams of specialist mental health workers have been deployed to southern Queensland to help in the flood recovery.

Queensland Health says the mental health and community health staff will work with the Department of Communities and other non-government agencies, including the Red Cross and Lifeline.

Department spokesman Dr David Crompton says extra resources may be required in flood-affected communities for up to two years.

"We've increased the number of clinicians - nurses, psychologists, social workers - from the mental health area that will be going out to the south-west," he said.

"We know it is going to be difficult having accommodation for people for a time, so we're going to make sure that staff can be flown into regions to be able to assist in those places."

He says distress is a normal response to natural disasters and the teams will help in the flood recovery for several months.

"I am confident we are going to be able to meet the demands in those areas and remember it is not just Queensland Health that is providing resources in there," he said.

"There is the Red Cross, Lifeline and the Salvation Army.

"We are anticipating we are going to need to provide extra resources in that region over the next two years."

- ABC

© ABC 2012