Wildfires in Canada left psychological scars: Study finds high PTSD and stress levels

A survey of Nova Scotia and Alberta residents conducted during the 2023 wildfires found that 52% had very low resilience to stress, while 39% had likely developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unemployed individuals were three times more likely to experience both low resilience and PTSD symptoms compared to those who were employed. The research was published in the Frontiers in Public Health.

In 2023, large wildfires occurred across multiple regions of Canada. Alberta and Nova Scotia experienced some of the most extensive and severe fires, leading to states of emergency and mass evacuations. British Columbia and the Northwest Territories also faced large, uncontrollable fires that affected vast areas of forestland. Quebec experienced unusually high temperatures and drought conditions, which also led to wildfires.

The wildfires predominantly affected forested areas rich in flammable biomass. However, as many urban areas extended into these forested regions, the fires caused significant damage to residential homes and other structures. Thousands of residents were evacuated. Additionally, huge amounts of smoke from the fires lowered air quality, with effects sometimes extending far beyond the areas directly impacted by the flames.

Study author Medard K. Adu and his colleagues aimed to estimate the prevalence of low resilience and likely PTSD among residents of Alberta and Nova Scotia during the 2023 wildfires. They noted that previous findings indicate material damage is not the only type of harm suffered by communities affected by wildfires. Research suggests that PTSD symptoms may also be on the rise in these communities. The authors sought to estimate the extent of this impact by conducting a survey.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. It is characterized by severe anxiety, flashbacks, and uncontrollable thoughts about the incident.

The study included 298 residents of Alberta and Nova Scotia who completed an online survey designed by the authors. While a total of 1,802 individuals began the survey, only these 298 completed it. The survey was conducted in May and June 2023, during the height of the wildfires. The median age of participants from Nova Scotia was 46, while the median age in Alberta was 50. A majority of participants (85%) were women; 64% were employed, 56% were in a relationship, and 67% lived in their own homes at the time of the study.

The survey assessed PTSD symptoms using the PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version, and resilience using the Brief Resilience Scale.

Results showed that 52% of participants had low resilience, while 39% self-reported substantial PTSD symptoms, which the authors classified as likely PTSD. Unemployed participants were three times more likely to experience both low resilience and PTSD symptoms compared to employed participants. Additionally, those with a history of mental health diagnoses were about four times more likely to experience PTSD symptoms compared to those with no such history.

“This study established that unemployment and a history of mental health diagnosis predicted likely PTSD, while unemployment was associated with low resilience during the wildfire,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the prevalence of PTSD symptoms during the 2023 wildfires in Alberta and Nova Scotia. However, it should be noted that the sample consisted of online respondents, mostly women, and only a small portion of those who initially started the survey. It is possible that studies using more representative samples of the general population might yield different results.

The paper, “Exploring the prevalence and predictors of low resilience and likely PTSD in residents of two provinces in Canada during the 2023 wildfires,” was authored by Medard K. Adu, Reham Shalaby, Belinda Agyapong, Raquel da Luz Dias, and Vincent I. O. Agyapong.