Wildfires and Mental Health
By Theron Cole, MSW, MBA
Most everyone is aware of the current wildfires sweeping through areas of Texas and Oklahoma. Recently, the danger came painfully close to home as an out of control wildfire swept through the Callahan County town of Cross Plains. The overt damage caused by the fire was extensive, resulting in the loss of, or damage to, numerous homes and causing loss of life. When driving through Cross Plains today, it is easy to see the physical devastation caused by the fires, but the mental and emotional devastation caused to the residents by this natural disaster is more difficult to discern.
Most residents of this part of the United States are resilient, neighborly, and self-reliant. But, in the face of a devastating natural disaster, such as a wildfire, even the most resilient and self-reliant can at least momentarily be shaken. Let’s take a look at what some of the experts have to say about the mental and emotional impact of natural disasters, like the Cross Plains wildfire.
An article by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress offers some insight into the problems faced by those affected by disasters. The article categorizes behavioral responses to disasters into three categories.
· Psychiatric disorders such as acute stress disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and complicated grief/bereavement.
· Distress symptoms such as sleep disturbance, sadness, and fears.
· Increased risk behaviors such as increased alcohol, tobacco and drug use.
These responses indicate that mental distress associated with disasters such as wild fires affect people immediately, intermittently, and, potentially for some people, long term.
The American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) indicates that acute stress disorder and PTSD are characterized by a traumatic event in which a person experiences, witnesses, or is confronted with events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury or a threat to the physical integrity to self or others where the person’s response involved fear, helplessness, or horror. PTSD differs from the acute stress disorder in that the traumatic event is persistently re-experienced. The DSM further clarifies that the response in children may be expressed by disorganized or agitated behavior.
Some reactions that might indicate a person is being affected include fatigue, appetite changes, jumpiness, sleep disturbances, startle reaction, depression, sadness, irritability, anxiety, guilt, self-doubt, unpredictable mood swings, confusion, recurring dreams, nightmares, preoccupation with disasters, difficulty making decisions, crying easily, increasing alcohol/drug use, and isolation or social withdrawal. As you might imagine, these are only a few of the responses that a person may exhibit as a result of a traumatic event. The traumatic event may affect children differently than adults, and young adults may experience the event differently than the elderly.
Most of the feelings and responses described above are the normal responses that individuals have when exposed to trauma and disaster. These feelings and behaviors may occasionally occur long after there are no visible signs of the disaster that caused the reaction. Understanding the effect that trauma and disaster have on mental health is the first step to healing and recovery.
To recover, an individual must regain a sense of mastery and control while resuming age appropriate roles and activities. While many individuals are able to recover with little or no help, some people require additional encouragement, attention, and assistance to reacquire their losses. Supportive involvement with the community, family, and friends may be enough for some to recover. Others may require professional help, and should contact a local public or private mental health provider for assistance. The Betty Hardwick Center provides local public mental health services for both adults and children in Taylor, Jones, Callahan, Stephens, and Shackelford Counties, and can be reached by calling 325-690-5100.
Theron Cole is the Chief of Behavioral Health Services at the Betty Hardwick Center. Mental Health Matters is sponsored by the Mental Health Association, phone (325) 673-2300, e-mail mhaa@bitstreet.com. Need help? Call the Hope Line (325) 677-7773.