Measuring mental health outcomes in Walbridge Fire 2020

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Disaster Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Walbridge Fire in Sonoma County (August 2020) prompted a survey to assess resident experiences and emergency response effectiveness.
• Understanding the disaster's impact is crucial for improving future emergency management and resident support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the mental health implications of the Walbridge Fire on Sonoma County residents.
• To identify factors contributing to poorer mental health outcomes using a quantitative Global Worry Model.
• To inform strategies for enhancing disaster response and resident well-being.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method approach utilizing survey data from 1,583 English and 55 Spanish respondents.
• Quantitative analysis of factors including language, loss, emergency alerts, and family size on mental health questionnaire results.
• Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses regarding prior disasters, health conditions, and environmental factors (smoke, COVID-19).

Main Results:

• Quantitative analysis identified specific factors influencing mental health outcomes.
• Open-ended responses revealed that previous disaster experience, pre-existing health issues, and environmental conditions (smoke, COVID-19) exacerbated stress and anxiety.
• Immediate loss experienced by residents was significantly correlated with self-declared stress and anxiety.

Conclusions:

• The Walbridge Fire had measurable negative mental health consequences for residents.
• Loss, environmental factors, and prior experiences are critical considerations in disaster mental health.
• Findings underscore the need for targeted support for individuals experiencing loss during disasters.