Stress and grief after a wildfire are normal — get support
Returning to a damaged or destroyed home, or living for weeks under evacuation alert, takes a real toll on mental health. PreparedBC notes that the...
Returning to a damaged or destroyed home, or living for weeks under evacuation alert, takes a real toll on mental health. PreparedBC notes that the after-stage of a wildfire is overwhelming, and recommends taking recovery one step at a time. Adults often experience disrupted sleep, irritability, intrusive thoughts, or trouble concentrating in the weeks and months after a major event. Children may regress to younger behaviours, become clingy, or have nightmares. These reactions are normal responses to an abnormal event, not a sign of weakness. Talk about what happened with family and trusted friends, keep regular routines for meals and sleep where you can, and limit how much time anyone spends scrolling through coverage of the disaster. If symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with daily life, reach out to a family doctor, a community mental-health line, or 9-8-8 — the Suicide Crisis Helpline in Canada and the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US, reachable by call or text in both countries. Recovery is rarely linear, and asking for help early shortens the road back.
Disrupted sleep, intrusive thoughts and clingy children are normal reactions to an abnormal event — and 9-8-8 reaches a suicide and crisis line free by call or text in both Canada and the US.
Source: PreparedBC — Wildfires
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
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