Mental health & wellness during wildfire season

You can stay up-to-date on the latest news on wildfires, evacuation orders, fire bans, air quality data and more.

• BC WildFires | bc211
• Wildfire Service - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

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.

• FireSmart BC
• Get Prepared for a Wildfire
• How to prepare for the wildfire smoke season
• PreparedBC Wildfire Preparedness Guide

Stress takes a toll on our physical and mental health. Eating well, exercising indoors (and outdoors when conditions are favourable), drinking lots of water and getting enough sleep lowers stress and helps us cope.

Talking helps, whether it’s with family, friends, 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 ask an Emergency Support Services volunteer about the mental health or counselling support available to you.

Reach out to the vulnerable. Assisting others can help us regain a sense of purpose and 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.

Learn how to stay safe and healthy in an emergency. Know the signs of stress and how to manage it, and where to access help.

• Stay safe and healthy in an emergency
• Canadian Red Cross Coping with Crisis
• Coping with natural disaster stress
• Canadian Mental Health Association: Talk in Tough Times: Support for those affected by BC's wildfires
• Mental Health and Wellness Supports | First Nations Health Authority

For children and teens:

• First Nations Health Authority: Recognizing and Resolving Trauma in Children During Disasters
• BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
• Stress in Children and Teenagers
• Stress Management: Helping Your Child With Stress

Stress management:

• Signs of Stress
• Stress Management

Services and supports:

• Help in times of added stress
• Virtual mental health supports
• Disaster Psychosocial Services Program

• How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke
• Accessing care if you're evacuated due to a wildfire