New research commissioned by NRMA Insurance with Lifeline Australia has found that more than half of Australians have made major life changes due to extreme weather stress, six in 10 feel anxious about extreme weather, and one in five Gen Z respondents have altered their career or job plans because of climate‑related concerns.
The Extreme Weather and Suicidality Report, released in April 2026, is based on a survey of more than 1,500 adults across Australia, with additional samples from communities affected by floods and cyclones. The study examines how repeated and severe weather events are shaping mental health, daily routines, and longer‑term decision‑making. According to the findings, 53% of respondents reported making major life changes because of stress associated with extreme weather. Reported changes include relocation, reconsideration of where to live, and adjustments to financial and lifestyle choices in response to perceived disaster and climate risk.
The research also found that 61% of Australians feel anxious about extreme weather, and 42% said that concern affects their day‑to‑day life. Among younger respondents, the survey indicates a link between climate risk and labour‑market behaviour: one in five Gen Z respondents said they had changed their career or job plans due to extreme weather concerns. These behavioural shifts intersect with exposure concentrations, catastrophe models, and portfolio strategy in regions with recurring weather‑related losses. The results also point to mental health as a material dimension of disaster impact and recovery, alongside physical damage and economic disruption.
NRMA Insurance and Lifeline Australia have worked together since 2020 on initiatives related to severe weather and mental health. According to the organisations, the latest findings will inform information materials and digital resources for people in regions with higher exposure to bushfires, floods, and storms. NRMA Insurance chief executive officer Julie Batch said the research reinforces the need to view extreme weather as a driver of both physical and psychological harm. “The impact of extreme weather goes beyond physical damage. As an insurer, we see firsthand the emotional and psychological toll it takes on individuals and communities long after an event has passed,” Batch said.
Batch added: “This research reinforces that severe weather preparedness must include practical, accessible mental health support, so people are better equipped to manage stress and know where to seek help. She said NRMA Insurance has worked with Lifeline to adapt and expand digital resources that address disaster‑related stress. “That’s why NRMA Insurance partnered with Lifeline to develop dedicated content within Lifeline’s Online Support Toolkit, giving at-risk communities easy access to tools that can help build resilience before, during, and after a disaster,” she said.
Lifeline Australia chief research officer Dr Anna Brooks (pictured second to the left) said the data suggest that extreme weather‑related stress is becoming a persistent feature of life in some locations. “We’re seeing some people pull back from activities that support good mental health – things like gardening, community sport, creative hobbies, and regular catchups up with friends – particularly in areas experiencing repeated disruption. This can erode important personal, social, and community factors that help reduce stress and protect mental health. It’s why early, accessible support matters – and this must include programs and services which help people stay connected, manage stress, and maintain the routines and relationships that support wellbeing,” Brooks said. In conjunction with the report’s release, NRMA Insurance and Lifeline held a forum with representatives from government, mental health organisations, resilience specialists, and climate researchers to discuss implications for preparedness, service design, and community support.
Other insurers are also incorporating mental health into disaster and resilience initiatives in 2026. In April 2026, Allianz Australia launched the Allianz Community Care program, which groups several existing and new community partnerships under one program relating to mental health and disaster recovery. As part of the program, Allianz has partnered with Outside the Locker Room (OTLR), an organisation that works with local communities – particularly sporting clubs and small businesses – on mental health education. Under Allianz Community Care, OTLR plans to run more than 100 workshops across Australia on topics such as stress management and mental health literacy, with a focus on communities affected by natural disasters.
Allianz has also engaged Phoenix Australia, a national organisation specialising in post‑traumatic mental health, to advise on program design and implementation. Phoenix Australia will work with Allianz and OTLR on the disaster response and recovery components of the initiative, with an aim of aligning activities with established practice and existing services. Workshops began rolling out in April 2026, and Allianz is expected to name additional program partners over time.
The NRMA-Lifeline findings and emerging industry programs signal a closer connection between climate risk, customer behaviour, and the design of cover and services. Reported changes in housing, employment, and lifestyle decisions may influence risk profiles in certain regions, while increased attention to mental health could shape claims handling, case management, and support offerings after severe events. In workers’ compensation, income protection, and group life, longer recovery periods linked to psychological factors may affect return‑to‑work pathways and demand for psychosocial support. In property and catastrophe lines, repeated events and associated stress may drive shifts in demand for risk mitigation, community‑level resilience measures, and post‑event assistance. As extreme weather continues to affect where people live and work, insurers are being drawn further into discussions about how to integrate mental health, community connection, and long‑term recovery considerations into both underwriting and claims practice.
