Coping with Natural Disaster Stress

Smoke, evacuations, loss, worry—BC’s floods and wildfires affect us all. If you are feeling stressed or anxious, you are not alone. The Canadian Mental Health Association has outlined some helpful steps and resources:

• Prepare – Having a clear emergency plan and kit ready for your family, pets and livestock can ease your mind and allow you to focus on other needs.

• Take care – Stress takes a toll on our physical and mental health. Eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep lowers stress and helps us cope.

• Ask for help – Talking helps. Whether it’s with family, friends, a doctor or counsellor. Crisis lines are available to listen and help anytime—not just during a crisis. If you have been evacuated, you can also ask an Emergency Support Services volunteer about the mental health or counselling support available to you.

• Help others – Reach out to the vulnerable. Assisting others can help us regain a sense of purpose and community as we confront challenges together.

Helpful Links and Resources

Preparing for wildfires

• Get prepared for a wildfire in BC (Government of BC)

Health and mental health

• Coping through a natural disaster emergency – mental health tips for you and your family

• Recognizing and addressing trauma and anxiety during wildfire season (First Nations Health Authority)

• Recognizing and resolving trauma in children during disasters (First Nations Health Authority)

• Disaster emotional response timeline – what to expect before, during and after a disaster

• Your health during a wildfire (Government of BC)

• Wildfire smoke and health (BC Centre for Disease Control)

• Guidebook for Well-being in Recovery (Red Cross)

Direct Help for Stress

• Free, confidential support and crisis lines available 24/7:
  KUU-US Indigenous line 1-800-588-8717
  Interior BC Crisis Line 1-888-353-2273 – chat and text services available
  Northern BC Crisis Line 1-888-562-1214
  BC Mental Health Support Line 310-6789 (no area code required)

• Find virtual mental health supports available in BC

• BounceBack – a free skill-building program for overcoming low mood, anxiety stress or worry

• Find your local Canadian Mental Health Association

Information provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association in partnership with the Province of BC, First Nations Health Authority, Interior Health, Northern Health and Provincial Health Services Authority.