An online cognitive-behavioural intervention for treatment of insomnia and nightmares in bushfire survivors

The first phase of the project generated knowledge about the prevalence of sleep disturbances and trauma symptoms in victims of bushfire survivors from the general public. It also explored the correlation between prevalence of sleep disturbances and time of trauma. Surveying the general public from Australia, Canada and the USA provided data about the prevalence of sleep disturbances in those affected by bushfires.

Gaining knowledge about prevalence rates will inform decision making and timely treatment for those most affected. Furthermore, learning about the correlation between the prevalence of sleep difficulties and the timeline of the trauma will inform health professionals and other policy makers about appropriate treatment and when they should be implemented. This will ensure better and more efficient recovery for those traumatised by bushfires. 

The success of the online self-paced intervention trial will ensure that other populations such as Indigenous people and other minorities who live remotely, emergency and front-line workers and military personnel following a deployment, will be beneficiaries of this online treatment. The implementation of sleep-specific psychological treatments in a timely manner will prevent the development of psychopathology. This online self-paced module can also be used as a valid, free resource intervention both nationally and internationally.