Mental Health Impacts of Wildfire, Flooding and COVID-19: on educators: A Comparative Study

Introduction Fort McMurray, a city in northern Alberta, Canada, has experienced multiple traumas in the last five years, including the 2016 wildfire, the 2020 floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighteen months after the wildfire, major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms were elevated among school board employees in the city. Objectives This study aimed to compare employees of the school board and other employees of Fort McMurray in respect to the impact the 2016 wildfires, the 2019 COVID pandemic, and the 2020 floods had on their mental health. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted in Fort McMurray from 24 April to 2 June 2021. Online questionnaires were administered through REDCap and were designed to capture socio-demographic characteristics, clinical as well as wildfire, COVID-19, and flooding-related variables. Mental health outcome variables were captured using self-reported standardized assessment scales. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Chi-square/Fisher’s Exact tests, and binary regression analysis. Results Of the 249 residents who accessed the online survey, 186 completed the survey, giving a response rate of 74.7%. Of these respondents, 93.5% (174) indicated their employment status and were included in the Chi-square analysis. Most of the respondents were female (86.2%, (150)), above 40 years (53.4%, (93)), and were in a relationship (71.3%, (124)). The prevalence values for MDD, GAD and PTSD among respondents were 42.4%, 41.0, and 36.8%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between employees of the school board and other employees with respect to likely PTSD prevalence (28% vs. 45%, respectively, p < 0.05), although with other factors controlled for, in a binary logistic regression model, employer type did not significantly predict likely PTSD. Conclusions The study has established that likely PTSD symptoms were significantly higher in other employees compared to those of school board employees. Greater exposure to the traumatic events and a greater perceived lack of support from other employers might have contributed to the significantly higher prevalence of PTSD in other employees Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction: Suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm continue to be challenging public health problems. It's presently unknown what the prevalence and correlates of suicidal thoughts and self-harm are in female residents of Fort McMurray, a city that has endured wildfires, flooding, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the last five years.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm among female residents of Fort McMurray. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical information from the resident of Fort McMurray between April 24 to June 2 2021. Suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm among females were assessed using the ninth question of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a validated screening tool used to assess depression symptoms. Likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and low resilience were measured using standardized rating scales. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 25 using Chi-Square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Among Fort McMurray residents, 249 accessed the online survey, while 186 ultimately completed it, yielding a survey completion rate of 74.7%. Of these, 159 (85%) were females. After controlling for other variables in the regression model, respondents who expressed a desire to receive mental health counselling were more than seven times more likely to report suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm compared to the respondents who didn't desire to receive mental health counselling (OR: 7.29; 95% CI: 1.19 -44.58). Similarly, respondents who reported having abused alcohol in the past year were nearly four times more likely to report suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm compared to the respondents who said they had not abused alcohol in the past year (OR: 3.91; 95% CI: 1.05 -14.57). Conclusions: High prevalence of suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm were reported among female residents of Fort McMurray. Timely access to adequate mental health support should be offered to female residents of communities impacted by multiple natural disasters, particularly residents who self-report alcohol abuse or desire to receive mental health counselling Introduction: Fort McMurray, a city in northern Alberta, Canada, has experienced multiple traumas in the last five years, including the 2016 wildfire, the 2020 floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighteen months after the wildfire, major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms were elevated among school board employees in the city.
Objectives: This study aimed to compare employees of the school board and other employees of Fort McMurray in respect to the impact the 2016 wildfires, the 2019 COVID pandemic, and the 2020 floods had on their mental health. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted in Fort McMurray from 24 April to 2 June 2021. Online questionnaires were administered through REDCap and were designed to capture socio-demographic characteristics, clinical as well as wildfire, COVID-19, and flooding-related variables. Mental health outcome variables were captured using self-reported standardized assessment scales. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Chi-square/Fisher's Exact tests, and binary regression analysis. Results: Of the 249 residents who accessed the online survey, 186 completed the survey, giving a response rate of 74.7%. Of these respondents, 93.5% (174) indicated their employment status and were included in the Chi-square analysis. Most of the respondents were female (86.2%, (150)), above 40 years (53.4%, (93)), and were in a relationship (71.3%, (124)). The prevalence values for MDD, GAD and PTSD among respondents were 42.4%, 41.0, and 36.8%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between employees of the school board and other employees with respect to likely PTSD prevalence (28% vs. 45%, respectively, p < 0.05), although with other factors controlled for, in a binary logistic regression model, employer type did not significantly predict likely PTSD. Conclusions: The study has established that likely PTSD symptoms were significantly higher in other employees compared to those of school board employees. Greater exposure to the traumatic events and a greater perceived lack of support from other employers might have contributed to the significantly higher prevalence of PTSD in other employees

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Views of "being vulnerable" among people attended by a Portuguese community association: a qualitative study C. Laranjeira 1,2 *, L. Cordeiro 3 and A. Querido 1,2 1 School of Health Sciences; 2 ciTechCare, Polytechnic of Leiria and 3 InPulsar, Leiria, Portugal *Corresponding author. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2014 Introduction: The concept of social vulnerability arises in the individual-collective relationship and points to changing social conditions, built on the basis of power relations. In this context, vulnerability can be directly related to the deterioration of social and civil rights, resulting in the weakening of individuals' citizenship. On the other hand, vulnerability can also lead to the deterioration of mental health. Stigma and discrimination generate low self-esteem, decreased self-confidence, reduced motivation, and less hope for the future.
Objectives: This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of vulnerability from the perspective of vulnerable people and identify strategies they used to reduce vulnerability. Methods: This study employed a qualitative descriptive design. Using a purposeful sampling method, data were collected in April 2022. The following criteria were applied in the selection process: (1) adults with a personal sense of vulnerability or the experience of being vulnerable; and (2) understanding the Portuguese language and having reflective capacity. Results: A total of 12 respondents (6 male; 6 women) participated in study, mostly of middle-age. The manifestations of vulnerability reported by participants included being homeless, being a migrant, having an infectious disease, being drug dependent, experiencing a process of loss and grief and living socioeconomic difficulties. The data was summarized in terms of three major themes: (1) Conceptions about vulnerability, (2) Barriers imposed by vulnerability, and (3) Strategies for dealing with vulnerability. "Three subthemes were identified within the first theme: ontology condition that spreads, being alone "without network" and being exposed to external pressure (others). In the second theme, there were also three subthemes: discrimination/stigma, difficulties in social reintegration, and "my condition is difficult". Lastly, in the third theme, we found four subthemes: the ability to ask for help/seek support, motivation, and commitment to behavioural change, not exposing others to the same risks, and ignoring the disapproving look of others" (Laranjeira et al., 2022, p.5). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that vulnerability is a dynamic process of being exposed to circumstances that influence individual outcomes. However, there is a conceptual gap: vulnerability is regarded negatively, but vulnerability also has the capacity to shift life priorities for the better. Introduction: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in the ability to initiate and maintain social interaction, as well as a set of restricted and inflexible behavior patterns and interests. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at increased risk of suicidal behavior, including suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and death by suicide, as compared to the general population. Among the underlying causes, the co-occurrence of other psychiatric disorders, such as depression