Drought-related experiences and health/wellbeing consequences in Murray-Darling Basin

Australia’s rural communities are in the front line of climate change impacts. Climate scientists anticipate further long-term drying in the southeast and southwest. Long-term climatic changes will have far-reaching, mostly adverse, impacts on many sectors: economic productivity, employment, social structures, community wellbeing and cohesion, and human health. A coordinated research approach is needed across inter-related sectors, in consultation with communities. The aim of this integrated research program is to assess recent and current consequences of drought and indicators of climate change, to elucidate their causal background, to estimate likely future impacts under climate change, and to develop preventive, supportive and remedial strategies for families, communities, and government. The program will draw on the University’s expertise in climate science, epidemiological and health science, institutions and governance, community functioning, ecology, hydrology and water resources, bushfire dynamics and economic analysis.

Research projects underway include

1. an integrated assessment of climate change
2. acute and chronic risks to rural health
3. social and economic impacts of the Water Basin Plan (Murray Darling Basin Authority)
4. an analysis of farmers’ climate-related life satisfaction, decision-making
5. contributions to the Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Australian Capital Territory and Region (ACT&R) Project.

In addition, the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at ANU hosts the national adaptation research network on climate change and human health in rural Australia.

People: Dr Lean O’Brien, A/Prof Helen Berry, Dr Anthony Hogan, Prof Tony McMichael, Dr Charmian Bennett

Rainfall, drought and suicide: Ivan Hanigan

There is concern in Australia that droughts increase suicide incidence. Farming families are often considered at greatest risk, however non-farmers may also be vulnerable via economic and emotional connections with the natural environment. We used data on suicide and drought for New South Wales from 1970 to 2007 to explore this. We found associations between suicide and drought in some subgroups but not others. Suicide is a complex phenomenon, with many interacting social, environmental and biological causal factors. Future research will employ a more holistic framework for systematically investigating a broad range of factors that potentially influence suicide.

People: Ivan Hanigan, A/Prof Colin Butler

Indigenous communities: Helen Berry, Ursula King, Tony McM

In collaboration with the Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, The University of Canberra. Investigates (i) how CC impacts affecting people living in rural and remote locations have differential or unique impacts on indigenous peoples’ health and wellbeing and (ii) whether CC might offer indigenous peoples co-benefits for mental health and other opportunities for community and cultural development. Mixed methods: qualitative techniques, including new approaches, such as ‘PhotoVoice’; quantitiative analyses of purpose-designed questionnaires, including adapting and/or developing new psychometric instruments.

People: A/Prof Helen Berry, Dr Ursula King, Prof Tony McMichael

Future research

In collaboration with the Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, The University of Canberra. Trauma, social connectedness and economic loss after last summer’s floods and Cyclone Yasi in rural compared with remote Queensland. Aims to measuresentinel socioeconomic, community and emotional impacts, project, for selected scenarios, likely future personal and community service demands; and analyse implications for integrated socioeconomic and health policy preparedness. A multidisciplinary, quantitatively-based research-policy collaboration bringing together Australia’s foremost researchers in rural and remote mental health, communities and their wellbeing and post-weather disaster trauma and recovery to work with research-policy leaders in Queensland Health.