Bega MP Andrew Constance did something courageous this week. He allowed himself to cry and be vulnerable in the public eye and said he would seek help for the mental health injuries he suffered as the bushfire crisis unfolded.
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Not many Aussie blokes feel comfortable baring their emotions but throughout the fire emergency Mr Constance has not held back.
When he saw the hostile reception the Prime Minister received during his johnny-come-lately visit to Cobargo, Mr Constance had no hesitation saying the PM probably deserved it.
When he discovered the promised government aid was not getting where it was needed, he did not hold back - he was almost incandescent.
And when he learned the Red Cross was squirreling away donations, he detonated again.
But it was the admission he probably needed help that stood him head and shoulders above many of his peers. It's a message that needs to be broadcast in the wake of this catastrophe, now more than ever.
The arc of disaster has peaks and a very deep trough.
At the outset, there is heroism. We're juiced up on adrenaline, we've lost homes but most of us have survived. We have stories to tell and plenty of people who will listen.
Then comes the honeymoon: the offers of help, national attention, assistance packages announced almost daily.
Then the trough. Survivors wanting to rebuild are confronted by red tape, frustration sets in, followed by anger. As past experience has shown, there's a long steep climb out of the trough towards reconstruction.
For most of the South Coast hit by fires, it's the end of the honeymoon period, a time when mental health is about to be tested.
If a public figure like Andrew Constance can recognise it and acknowledge it, then so should the rest of us.
These are tough times and they are far from over. In fact, they are bound to get tougher as the reality of reconstruction sets in. That's why NSW Health has sent teams into fire affected areas. They are directing people to counsellors who will help navigate the trauma.
Rebuilding mental health is just as, if not more, important as rebuilding houses. So follow Mr Constance's lead and get help if you are struggling.