Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-x4r87 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-29T08:35:10.132Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Long-Term Mental Health Effects of a Devastating Wildfire Are Amplified by Sociodemographic and Clinical Antecedents in College Students

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2020

Amanda Ritchie ,
Brenda Sautner ,
Joy Omege ,
Edward Denga ,
Bernard Nwaka ,
Idowu Akinjise ,
Sandra E. Corbett ,
Shahram Moosavi ,
Andrew Greenshaw  and
Pierre Chue
...Show all authors
Amanda Ritchie
Affiliation:
Saint James School of Medicine, Anguilla, Park Ridge, IL
Brenda Sautner
Affiliation:
Keyano College, Fort McMurray, AB, Canada
Joy Omege
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Alberta Health Services, Fort McMurray, AB, Canada
Edward Denga
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Bernard Nwaka
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Idowu Akinjise
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Sandra E. Corbett
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Northern Lights Regional Health Centre, Fort McMurray, AB, Canada
Shahram Moosavi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Andrew Greenshaw
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Pierre Chue
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Xin-Min Li
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Vincent I. O Agyapong*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Vincent Agyapong, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 1E1 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre (WMC), 8440 112 St. NW, Edmonton, ABT6G 2B7, Canada (e-mail: agyapong@ualberta.ca).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to assess prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in students of Keyano College 18 months after a wildfire and to determine the predictors of likely MDD, GAD, and PTSD in the respondents.

Methods:

A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used to collect data through self-administered, paper-based questionnaires to determine likely MDD, GAD, and PTSD using the PHQ 9, GAD-7, and the PTSD Checklist for DSM 5, Part 3, respectively. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY) using univariate analysis with chi-square tests.

Results:

Eighteen months after the wildfire, the 1-month prevalence rates for MDD, GAD, and PTSD among the college students were 23.4%, 18.7%, and 11.0%, respectively. There were statistically significant associations between multiple sociodemographic variables and the likelihood respondents presented with MDD, GAD, and PTSD 18 months after the wildfire. There were also associations between the likely MDD, GAD, and PTSD and abuse/dependence on alcohol and substances in respondents at 18 months.

Conclusion:

Our study has established prevalence rates for MDD, GAD, and PTDS among college students 18 months after the Fort McMurray wildfires. Further studies are needed to explore the impact of college-based mental health interventions on the long-term mental health effects of the wildfires.

Keywords

alcohol Fort McMurrayanxietydepressiondrugsPTSDwildfires
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 15 , Issue 6 , December 2021 , pp. 707 - 717
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

CBC News. Fort McMurray wildfire now considered under control. 2016. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-mcmurray-wildfire-now-considered-under-control-1.3664947. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Alberta Government. Home again: recovery after the Wood Buffalo wildfire. November 1, 2016. https://open.alberta.ca/publications/9781460131350. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Weber, B. Costs of Alberta wildfire reach $9.5 billion: study. The Canadian Press. 2017. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/costs-of-alberta-wildfire-reach-9-5-billion-study-1.652292. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Statistics Canada. Fort McMurray 2016 wildfire: economic impact. 2017. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2017007-eng.pdf?st=Ot-a93ve. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Ibrahim, D. Canadians’ experiences with emergencies and disasters, 2014. Statistics Canada. 2016. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2016001/article/14469-eng.htm. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Laugharne, J, van der Watt, G, Janca, A. After the fire: the mental health consequences of fire disasters. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2011;24:72-77.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rabiei, A, Nakhaee, N, Pourhosseini, SS. Shortcomings in dealing with psychological effects of natural disasters in Iran. Iran J Public Health. 2014;43(8):1132-1138.Google ScholarPubMed
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. 2018. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/trauma/disaster-terrorism/traumatic-effects-disasters.asp. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Ogrodnik, I. Mental health of survivors after a natural disaster often overlooked, says expert. Global News: Health. 2013. https://globalnews.ca/news/306696/mental-health-of-survivors-after-a-natural-disaster-often-overlooked-says-expert/. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Harris, MS, Musa, G, Brookman, R. The significance of community support for survivors of a natural disaster. The Open Family Studies Journal. 2018. https://benthamopen.com/FULLTEXT/TOFAMSJ-8-37. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Houston, JB, First, JM. The mental health impact of major disasters like Harvey, Irma and Maria. The Conversation. 2017. http://theconversation.com/the-mental-health-impact-of-major-disasters-like-harvey-irma-and-maria-83764. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Martin, U. Health after disaster: a perspective of psychological/health reactions to disaster. Cogent Psychology. 2015;2(1):epub. doi:10.1080/23311908.2015.1053741.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tang, W, Zhao, J, Lu, Y, et al. Mental health problems among children and adolescents experiencing two major earthquakes in remote mountainous regions: a longitudinal study. Compr Psychiatry. 2017;72:66-73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Statistics Canada. Health state descriptions for Canadians: Section B – Anxiety disorders. 82-619-M, Number 4. 2015. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-619-m/2012004/sections/sectionb-eng.htm#a4. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Auletta, JL. Disaster vulnerability of university student populations. University of South Florida: Scholar Commons. 2012. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5156&context=etd. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Everly, GS, Hamilton, SE, Tyiska, CG, Ellers, K. Mental health response to disaster: consensus recommendations: Early Psychological Intervention Subcommittee (EPI), National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). Aggress Violent Behav. 2008;13(6):407-412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kroenke, K, Spitzer, RL, Williams, JBW. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606-613.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spitzer, RL, Kroenke, K, Williams, JBW, Löwe, B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092-1097.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weathers, FW, Litz, BT, Keane, TM, et al. The PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Scale available from the National Center for PTSD. 2013. https://www.ptsd.va.gov. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Berman, AH, Bergman, H, Palmstierna, T, Schlyter, F. DUDIT (Drug Use Disorders Identification Test) manual. Stockholm: Karolinska Institutet; 2003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Babor, TF, Higgins-Biddle, JC, Saunders, JB, Monteiro, MG. The Alcohol Use Identification Test: guidelines for use in primary care, 2nd ed. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2001.Google Scholar
Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0096-18 Mood disorders, by age group. 2018. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310009618&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.10&pickMembers%5B1%5D=3.1. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Tang, B, Lui, X, Liu, Y, et al. A meta-analysis of risk factors for depression in adults and children after natural disasters. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:623.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bryant, RA, Waters, E, Gibbs, L, et al. Psychological outcomes following the Victorian Black Saturday bushfires. Aust NZ J Psychiat. 2014;48:634-643.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marshall, GN, Schell, TL, Elliott, MN, et al. Psychiatric disorders among adults seeking emergency disaster assistance after a wildland-urban interface fire. Psychiatr Serv. 2007;58:509-514.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pedrelli, P, Nyer, M, Yeung, A, et al. College students: mental health problems and treatment considerations. Acad Psychiatry. 2015;39(5):503-511. doi:10.1007/s40596-014-0205-9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ibrahim, AK, Kelly, SJ, Adams, CE, Glazebrook, C. A systematic review of studies of depression prevalence in university students. J Psychiatr Res. 2012;47(3):epub. doi:10.1016/j.psychires.2012.11.015.Google ScholarPubMed
Schneider, JC, Trinh, N-HT, Selleck, E, et al. The long-term impact of physical and emotional trauma: the Station nightclub fire. PLoS One. 2012;7:e47339.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, J. Special report: mental health matters: anxiety and depression. BU Today. 2016. http://www.bu.edu/today/2016/college-students-anxiety-and-depression/. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Reilly, K. Record numbers of college students are seeking treatment for depression and anxiety – but schools can’t keep up. Time. 2018. http://time.com/5190291/anxiety-depression-college-university-students/. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Vitasari, P, Wahab, MNA, Othman, A, et al. The relationship between study anxiety and academic performance among engineering students. Procedia Soc Behav Sci. 2010;8:490-497.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karatekin, C. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), stress and mental health in college students. Stress Health. 2018;34(1):36-45. doi:10.1002/smi.2761.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dai, W, Kaminga, AC, Tan, H, et al. Comorbidity of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety in flood survivors: prevalence and shared risk factors. Medicine. 2017;96(36):e7994. doi:10.1097/MD. 0000000000007994.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moser, JS, Hajcak, G, Simons, RF, Foa, EB. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in trauma-exposed college students: the role of trauma-related cognitions, gender, and negative affect. J Anxiety Disord. 2007;21(8):1039-1049. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.10.009.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Neria, Y, Nandi, A, Galea, S. Post-traumatic stress disorder following disasters: a systematic review. Psychol Med. 2007;38(4):467-480. doi:10.1017/S0033291707001353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pitrėnaitė-Žilėnienė, B, Miglinė, V. Significance of mental health support after disasters. Health Policy Manag. 2015;1(8):epub. doi:10.13165/SPV-15-1-8-04.Google Scholar
Van Ameringen, M, Mancini, C, Patterson, B, Boyle, MH. Post-traumatic stress disorder in Canada. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2008;14(3):171-181. doi:10.1111/j.1755-5949.2008.00049.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bromet, EJ, Atwoli, L, Kawakami, N, et al. Post-traumatic stress disorder associated with natural and human-made disasters in the World Mental Health Surveys. Psychol Med. 2017;47(2):227-241. doi:10.1017/S0033291716002026.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fernandez, CA, Vicente, B, Marshall, BDL, et al. Longitudinal course of disaster-related PTSD among a prospective sample of adult Chilean natural disaster survivors. Int J Epidemiol. 2017;46(2):440-452. doi:10.1093/ije/dyw094.Google ScholarPubMed
Schwartz, RM, Liu, B, Lieberman-Cribbin, W, Taioli, E. Displacement and mental health after natural disasters. Lancet Planet Health. 2017;1(8):e314. doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(17)30138-9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Read, JP, Ouimette, P, White, J, et al. Rates of DSM-IV-TR trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder among newly matriculated college students. Psychol Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2011;3(2):148-156. doi:10.1037/a0021260.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Breslau, N, Kessler, RC. The stressor criterion in SM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder: an empirical investigation. Biol Psychiatry. 2001;50(9):699-704.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norris, FH, Friedman, MJ, Watson, PJ, et al. 60,000 Disaster victims speak: part I. An empirical review of the empirical literature, 1981–2001. Psychiatry. 2002;65:207-239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
West, JS, Price, M, Gros, KS, Ruggiero, KJ. Community support as a moderator of postdisaster mental health symptoms in urban and nonurban communities. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013;7(5):443-451. doi:10.1017/dmp.2013.74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Litz, BT, Gray, MJ, Bryant, RA, Adler, AB. Early intervention for trauma: current studies and future directions. Clin Psychol Sci Pract. 2002;9(2):112-134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, S, Bisson, J, Churchill, R, Wessely, S. Psychological debriefing for preventing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;2:CD000560.Google Scholar
Morina, N, Wicherts, JM, Lobbrecht, J, Priebe, S. Remission from post-traumatic stress disorder in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of long term outcome studies. Clin Psychol Rev. 2014;34(3):249-255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davidson, JR, McFarlane, AC. The extent and impact of mental health problems after disaster. J Clin Psychiat. 2006;67(Suppl 2):9-14.Google ScholarPubMed
Kessler, RC, Sonnega, A, Bromet, E, et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1995;52(12):1048-1060.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bianchini, V, Roncone, R, Giusti, L, et al. PTSD growth and substance abuse among a college student community: coping strategies after 2009 L’Aquila earthquake. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2015;11:140-143.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newins, A, White, SW. Understanding the relationship between social anxiety and alcohol use in college students: a meta-analysis. Addict Behav. 2013;38(11):2690-2706. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.06.014.Google Scholar
Op Den Velde, W, Aarts, PG, Falger, PR, et al. Alcohol use, cigarette consumption and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. Alcohol Alcohol. 2002;37:355-361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jacobsen, LK, Southwick, SM, Kosten, TR. Substance use disorders in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of the literature. Am J Psychiatry. 2001;158(8):1184-1190.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McCarthy, E, Petrakis, I. Epidemiology and management of alcohol dependence in individuals with post traumatic stress disorder. CNS Drugs. 2010;24(12):997-1007.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
North, CS, Pfefferbaum, B. Mental health response to community disasters: a systematic review. JAMA. 2013;310:507-518.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Felix, ED, Afifi, W. The role of social support on mental health after multiple wildfire disasters. J Community Psychol. 2015;43(2):epub. doi:10.1002/jcop.21671.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dai, W, Wang, J, Kaminga, AC, et al. Predictors of recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder after the Dongting Lake flood in China: a 13–14 year follow-up study. BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:382.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bonanno, GA, Gupta, S. Resilience after disaster. In: Neria, Y, Galea, S, Norris, FH, eds. Mental health and disasters. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 2009:145-160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldman, E, Galea, S. Mental health consequences of disasters. Ann Rev Public Health. 2014;35(1):169-183. doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182435.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masten, AS. Ordinary magic: resilience processes in development. Am Psychol. 2001;56(3):227-238.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bonanno, GA. Resilience in the face of potential trauma. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2005;14(3):135-138. doi:10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00347.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parkinson, D, Zara, C. The hidden disaster: domestic violence in the aftermath of natural disaster. Aust J Emerg Manag. 2013;28(2):28-35.Google Scholar
Sety, M, James, K, Breckenridge, J. Understanding the risk of domestic violence during and post natural disasters: literature review. In: Roeder, L, ed. Issues of Gender and Sexual Orientation in Humanitarian Emergencies. Humanitarian Solutions in the 21st Century. Cham, Switzerland: Springer; 2014.Google Scholar
Burczycka, M. Family violence in Canada: a statistical profile, 2016: section 2: police-reported family violence in Canada – an overview. Statistics Canada. 85-002-X. 2018. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54893/02-eng.htm. Accessed June 1, 2018.Google Scholar
Agyapong, VIO, Ahern, S, McLoughlin, DM, Farren, CK. Supportive text messaging for depression and comorbid alcohol use disorder: single-blind randomised trial. J Affect Disord. 2012;141(2-3):168-176.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Agyapong, VIO, Mrklas, K, Juhás, M, et al. Cross-sectional survey evaluating Text4Mood: mobile health program to reduce psychological treatment gap in mental healthcare in Alberta through daily supportive text messages. BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16(1):378.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Agyapong, VIO, Juhás, M, Ohinmaa, A, et al. Randomized controlled pilot trial of supportive text messages for patients with depression. BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):286.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed