Southern Cross University has been chosen to trial a new treatment program to help residents of northern NSW suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after the devastating 2022 floods.
The world-first stepped care treatment will feature a group-based, arts-based compassion program and a nature-based compassion program.
If participants still have PTSD and are eligible, some may be “stepped up” to MDMA (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) assisted therapy to help flood survivors.
The four-year, $3,824,461 clinical trial is funded by the Australian government through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and aims to help more than 200 people from the Northern Rivers region.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said: “In a country often ravaged by bushfires, floods and cyclones, the world-first research by Southern Cross University will look for new and innovative ways to help communities recover following natural disasters.
“We hope that this research project will help the Northern Rivers community to recover following the flood tragedy.”
Stepped care is an evidence-based system for treating mental health, involving a hierarchy of treatments, from least to most intensive.
According to Southern Cross University, to date there have been very few clinical trials focussed on recovery from disaster-related PTSD, and none focussed on a stepped care model.
The project’s chief investigator, Professor James Bennett-Levy, thanked the Minister for funding the “world-first clinical trial of a stepped care model in a post-disaster context.”
“In 2022, northern New South Wales, and Lismore in particular, experienced Australia’s most devastating floods,” Professor Bennet-Levy said.
“Thousands of people are still suffering from disaster-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our research after the 2017 floods showed that mental health problems were compounded if people were self-critical and blamed themselves. We have therefore designed a stepped care program with a self-compassion focus.”
NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP said she was happy to throw her support behind the project.
“This project not only offers innovative evidence-based practices for trauma relief, but also means something positive can come out of our local experience. This research will add to the body of knowledge around trauma and post-traumatic growth,” Ms Saffin said.
Step one of the clinical trial will evaluate the choice of a five-session, arts-based compassion program or a nature-based compassion program.
If participants still have PTSD, they may be eligible for Step 2 – MDMA-assisted therapy. Prior research has shown that MDMA-assisted therapy is an effective evidence-based treatment for PTSD and enhances self-compassion.
Recruitment for the clinical trial will start later this year. In the meantime, people can register their interest by emailing compassiontrial@scu.edu.au
