What Is The Mental Health Impact Of Wildfires?

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In the past four weeks, Andros, Abaco, New Providence, and Grand Bahama have all battled blazes, some fires raging simultaneously.

Many residents fear we don’t have the firefighting resources and manpower—especially in the Family Islands—to tackle the fires.

Therapist and counselor at Family Wellness Center in Grand Bahama, Jessica Russell, tells us that feeling of helplessness can compound the emotional strain on residents.

And even if their own property is not destroyed, the evidence of the blaze can be distressing.

Russell’s advice for parents includes allowing them to ask questions about the fire and monitoring the kinds of videos of the fires their children are seeing. Another thing she says may help both you and your children?

But there’s another element to the anxiety that can rise up for many as we saw in the members of the Bahamas Fishing Association whose lobster traps were threatened by the Coral Harbour bushfire.

Russell says in times like these, it’s important to monitor the patterns in you and your loved ones to recognize if there’s any change or need to ask for help.