As the fires continue to burn across eastern Australia, the full scale of the health impacts and the capacity of health services to adequately respond is emerging.

Many thousands of people have been affected by fire, and many displaced from their homes. Millions of Australians have been and are still affected by hazardous bushfire smoke.

Mental health effects from bushfires are common, ranging from short-term anxiety and panic, to longer-term depression and PTSD.

A sizeable part of the Australian population has been through trauma, which will almost certainly have ongoing effects. And, of course, the fires are still burning.