Clinical trial to focus on art and nature to overcome PTSD from disasters

A CLINICAL trial at Southern Cross University is aiming to combat post-traumatic stress disorder for people affected by floods and other natural disasters by combining art and nature activities into the treatment.

It is calling on participants from the Northern Rivers to join, with the federal government funding the world-first trial of a stepped-care model for treating mental health in response to disasters.

Initially, participants will be recruited from the Lismore and Byron areas, with other Northern Rivers areas to follow.

Dr Janet Schloss, the university’s principal investigator of the healing climate-related trauma (HEART) program, said the trial is founded on contemporary evidence and understanding of PTSD from disasters.

The trial will focus on a compassion-based approach to PTSD by combining art or nature into the treatment.

Skilled trainers will run arts-based and nature-based compassion groups.

They will combine creativity, mindfulness, group connection and compassion.

“We designed the HEART trial to find ways to heal the Northern Rivers communities still suffering from recent climate-related disasters,” Ms Schloss said.

“Research suggests that when we embed compassion skills in enjoyable activities, they are more easily taken on board.”

A smaller trial will test whether MDMA-assisted therapy is effective for people who still have PTSD after completing Step 1 later next year or in 2027.

Step one of the project has been set up with support from community advisory groups across the Northern Rivers.

The trial will use a dedicated website, videos and public seminars to communicate its findings.

Potential participants need to be 18 and over and have been directly impacted by a climate-related disaster such as bushfires, floods or landslides between 2017 and 2022.

The trial runs for five weeks with more information at heart.scu.edu.au/about.