How to take care of your mental wellness during wildfire season

If you’re concerned about a nearby wildfire and evacuation, please visit the Government of BC’s Wildfire Service website. You will find the most current information and status of the wildfires on this site.

To stay up to date on evacuation alerts and orders:

• Download the BC Wildfire Service app on your Apple or Android device
• Visit the wildfire map or EmergencyInfoBC
• Sign up for a service like Voyent Alert or Alertable
• Check your local government website or social media pages
• Create a profile with Emergency Support Services if an evacuation order is issued in your area

Ease your mind with a plan

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. Find out what you can do that could save your home from a wildfire.

• Prepare for wildfire (Province of BC)
• FireSmart BC
• How to prepare for the wildfire smoke season
• Wildfire Preparedness Guide (PreparedBC)

Stress takes a toll on our physical and mental health. Here are a few things that can help:

• Look after the basics. Eating well, exercising indoors (and outdoors when conditions are favourable), staying hydrated especially if it's hot, and getting enough sleep all lower stress and can help you cope.
• Stay connected to others. Connect with family, friends, neighbours and coworkers. Staying in touch with people is part of taking care of yourself. A sense of connection and community is one of the things that can help people get through a hard wildfire season.
• Check in with kids and teens. Wildfire stress doesn't always look the same in children and teens as it does in adults: they may need extra reassurance during and after a wildfire. Feeling supported by family and friends can help buffer that anxiety, so check in often.
• If you're pregnant, it's normal to worry about how wildfire smoke or an evacuation might affect you and your baby. Along with following air quality guidance, talking to your care provider about your specific situation and leaning on your support network can help.
• Watch for the effects of prolonged smoke. Living with wildfire smoke for many days in a row, or through repeated fire seasons, can take a different kind of toll than a single smoky day. The stress can build up over time. If you notice that happening, that's a sign to reach out for support.
• Have backup plans. Air quality can turn poor quickly. A single day of very poor air quality can throw off your plans, such as a family gathering, a vacation, an outdoor event, a soccer game, or a hike. An event may need to be postponed or moved indoors. Having a backup plan can make those disappointments easier to handle.
• Look for windows of opportunity. If you can, head outdoors when air quality improves to take advantage of sunshine and better air.

Talking helps, whether it’s with family, friends or a care provider. 

Crisis lines are available to listen and help anytime, not just during a crisis.

If you have been evacuated, you can also reach out to Emergency Support Services volunteers about the mental health or counselling supports available to you. 

Many people, especially those with chronic physical or mental health problems, or those experiencing homelessness, need extra help during wildfire season. Helping others helps us all regain our sense of community as we confront challenges together.

The Emergency Support Services Program welcomes and relies on volunteers to coordinate support services for people forced from their homes in an emergency. The Disaster Psychosocial Support team also invites volunteers to join their network and help those impacted by disasters and emergencies.

Learn how to stay safe and healthy during wildfire season. Know the signs of stress and how to manage it, and where to access help.

• Stay safe and healthy in an emergency (Province of BC)
• Coping with Crisis (Canadian Red Cross)
• Canadian Mental Health Association: Talk in Tough Times: Support for those affected by BC's wildfires
• Mental Health and Wellness Supports (FNHA)

• BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
• Children and climate change anxiety: When wildfire smoke rolls in (BC Children's Hospital)
• Stress Management: Helping Your Child With Stress (Province of BC)

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• Help in Times of Added Stress - HelpStartsHere (Province of BC)
• Disaster Psychosocial Support (PHSA)