City Research Online

Abstract

While natural disasters cause loss of life and worsen health in the local areas they impact, the overall health impacts of these disasters can be more widespread. Using linked administrative and survey data (the 45 and Up Study) from Australia, a country where one in four residents was born overseas, we show that migrant mental health is significantly affected by home‐country natural disasters. In the 3 months following a disaster, mental health related drug use and visits to mental health specialists increase by 7% and 34%, respectively. The effects persist for up to 12 months after the initial shock. To place these effects in context we provide suggestive comparisons to the impacts of home‐country terrorist attacks and macroeconomic shocks on mental health, and also compare the effects on mental health to physical health conditions of migrants.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Bharadwaj, P., Doiron, D., Fiebig, D. G. & Suziedelyte, A. Home‐Country Natural Disasters and Mental Health of Migrants*. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, doi: 10.1111/obes.12631, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/obes.12631. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Departments:	School of Policy & Global Affairs School of Policy & Global Affairs > Economics
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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