The 2019-20 bushfires and COVID-19: The ongoing impact on the mental health of people living in rural and farming communities.

It is well established that bushfires and other natural disasters have long term-effects on the mental health of affected individuals and communities (Black Dog Institute, 2020). These effects can last for years as demonstrated following the 2009 Black Saturday fires in Victoria, Australia: one fifth (21.9%) of the highest impacted communities reported mental health symptoms at the five year follow up (Gibbs et al. 2013).