New research by NRMA Insurance has revealed that 80% of Australians are anxious about the impact of extreme weather, with people living in high-risk areas (86%) and younger individuals aged 18-24 (90%) the most impacted. Over the past three years, Lifeline Australia has seen a 25% increase in calls to its disaster recovery helpline, with over 430,000 calls received.

In response to this growing concern, NRMA Insurance and Lifeline Australia have launched online resilience resources to help Australians prepare for and recover from extreme weather events. These resources, part of Lifeline's Support Toolkit, include practical strategies to manage stress, cope with uncertainty, and find support services.

"Natural disasters and extreme weather have mental health and wellbeing impacts, particularly for younger Australians and those in high-risk areas, and building emotional resilience is just as important as being physically prepared," said NRMA Insurance Executive General Manager Claims, Luke Gallagher.

Lifeline Australia has noted a significant increase in the use of its online resources. "Australians are turning to Lifeline's online resources now more than ever. They're looking to understand what they're experiencing and to find practical ways they can manage their mental health and wellbeing," said Lifeline Australia Wellbeing Lead, Dr Ally Nicolopoulos.

The initiative aims to provide proactive, practical ways to protect mental health and wellbeing, particularly for vulnerable individuals. "Providing individuals with proactive, practical ways that can protect their mental health and wellbeing, particularly when they're vulnerable, is really important for fostering resilience, promoting positive coping mechanisms, and ensuring all Australians have access to the support they deserve," said Dr Nicolopoulos.

The research is featured in the latest edition of the NRMA Insurance Wild Weather Tracker, which reported 9,647 claims for wild weather damage to homes and vehicles nationally during autumn. The online resilience resources are part of Help Nation, an initiative by NRMA Insurance to help Australians prepare for extreme weather and understand their local risks.

The research was conducted on behalf of NRMA Insurance by PureProfile in May 2024, surveying 3,500 Australians across NSW, QLD, the ACT, SA, and WA.