It's a relevant question given the spate of natural disasters in Australia in recent years, and one that researchers at the University of Wollongong are keen to answer.

Dr Coralie Wilson, an internationally recognised expert in human behaviour, has helped inform many government guidelines in the areas of depression and suicide prevention.

As part of her research in this area, she is working with PhD student Anna Cavanagh and leading academics Peter Caputi, David Kavanagh and John Bushnell to look at the need to "future-proof the community for natural disaster" by giving particular attention to the psychological needs of men.

While not ignoring the effects of natural disasters on women, the researchers believe that men are at higher risk of long-term psychological trauma given their general reluctance to access mental health services.

"A large part of the way men value themselves is based around job, status, house and in the role of provider and protector - whereas women focus far more on relationships and networking," Dr Wilson said.

"So when there is a natural disaster and a man loses his house, or his castle, and his role of protector is threatened, then there are inevitable consequences both in the short and long term as he is less likely to seek the help he needs."

Short-term consequences may include sleeping difficulties and a sense of hopelessness, while in the long term depression and conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder may set in.

"What men - and indeed many women - do naturally when they become unwell, both physically or mentally, is to withdraw," Dr Wilson said.

"But the message we would like to get out is that even if they feel like disconnecting, they should stay connected by reaching out to neighbours and others, and to mental health services if they need to - especially after a natural disaster."

Dr Wilson's research into suicide, depression and help-seeking behaviour is gaining global recognition.

From October 2012 to January 2013 her journal articles were downloaded around the world at a greater rate than other academics in an international database.

The Digital Commons Network is an open access database for academic publications.

"The fact that my articles are being accessed so much shows that people around the world are starting to look at the help negation phenomenon as an answer to why people are still not accessing the services they need," Dr Wilson said.