Mental health, messaging and security in times of crisis

This paper considers the effects of wider mental health issues on possible crisis responses actioned by the Australian government, especially responses to extend-ed disruptions to everyday life. Lockdown protests and prominent conspiratorial narratives leading to socially destructive behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic – ranging from violent protests, to the refusal of some population elements to wear masks – give us insight into how the social risks of crises manifest, as well as an opportunity to better understand how governments may mitigate such risks. Using the COVID pandemic as a guide, the paper gives some practical policy recommendations for more effective engagement with mental health stressors inherent in an extended crisis, as well as suggestions for more nuanced crisis communication from government that may mitigate the heightened security risks inherent in such crises.

This article was published in National Security Journal, 03 September 2023.