by Crystal Laderas, 660 News

 

The billowing black smoke, the raging fire, and the echo of emergency vehicles scrambling through Fort McMurray – the sounds and images didn’t stop after last May’s evacuation, according to a study on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for those who fled the wildfire ravaged city.

University of Laval professor and psychologist Geneviève Belleville is the lead researcher on the study. Preliminary findings sent to those who took part say 60 per cent of online participants reported significant post-traumatic stress symptoms.

The most frequent symptoms included repeated disturbing memories of the fires or evacuation, feeling upset when reminded of the experience and having trouble falling or staying asleep.

According to a clinical review, 29 per cent of participants had PTSD, 26 per cent had a major depressive disorder and 36 per cent had insomnia.

Researchers said they hoped the information gathered while spending three weeks in Fort McMurray would help provide better mental health support for those in the wake of a disaster. There were 379 evacuees who completed an online questionnaire and 55 who were interviewed in person.

In their preliminary findings, researchers say the information was collected within three months of the disaster and the majority of people are expected to gradually return to pre-disaster levels of functioning.

Filed under: Fort McMurray, Recovery, Wildfire