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On May 3, 2016, mandatory evacuation order was declared for Fort McMurray region as wildfire threatened. Over 90,000 residents were evacuated and firefighters from Canada and abroad worked constantly to protect the municipality. Overall, fire consumed about 2400 homes and over 200,000 ha of forest, reaching into Saskatchewan. The evacuation order was lifted with residents returning to the Municipality in phases from June 1, 2016. The aim of this study is to assess likely prevalence of PTSD in residents of Fort McMurray 6 months after a wildfire and to determine the predictors of likely PTSD in the respondents. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used to collect data through self-administered paper-based questionnaires to determine likely PTSD. The PTSD Checklist for DSM 5 Part 3 was used to assess the presence or absence of likely PTSD in respondents randomly selected from a variety of natural settings in Fort McMurray. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 using univariate analysis with the chi-squared test and binary logistic regression analysis. One-month prevalence rate among adult residents for likely PTSD 6 months after the disaster was 12.8% (14.9% for females and 8.7% for males). While controlling for other factors in the logistic regression model, corresponding odds ratios included 9.51 and 4.88 for those who received no or only limited support respectively from friends/family, 8.00 for those who had history of an anxiety disorder before the wildfire, and 4.01 for those who received counseling after the wildfire. Respondents who presented with likely PTSD were significantly more likely to self-report increased drug abuse, but not increased alcohol use, after the fire. Our study has established that while support from family/friends following wildfires may be protective against likely PTSD, a prior diagnosis of an anxiety disorder significantly increased risk for developing PTSD. Further studies are needed to explore whether receiving counseling after a wild fire alters the likelihood of individuals presenting with PTSD.

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.

This study assesses the prevalence rates for a major depressive disorder (MDD) in residents of Fort McMurray 6 months after a wildfire and to determine the demographic, clinical, and other predictors of likely MDD in the respondents. One thousand five hundred adult residents of Fort McMurray who could read and provide written informed consent were enrolled on this cross-sectional survey. The PHQ-9 was used to assess the presence or absence of probable MDD. Overall, 486 respondents with an age range of 18 to 88 and about a two thirds being females completed in full all of the key psychometric questionnaires and were included in the analysis. The 1-month prevalence rate for likely MDD 6 months after the disaster was 14.8% overall. Corresponding odds ratios for likely MDD included 2.77 (95% CI of 1.03–7.46) and 12.75 (95% CI of 2.22–73.21) for those who received limited or no support respectively from friends or family, 5.31 (95% CI of 1.3–20.1) for those who had history of an anxiety disorder before the wildfire and 2.57 (CI of 1.1–6.2) for those who have received counseling after the wildfire, while controlling for other factors in the model. While a prior diagnosis of an anxiety disorder significantly increased risk for developing MDD following wildfires, high level support from family and friends may be protective. Further studies are needed to explore the association between receiving counseling after a wildfire and presenting with likely MDD.

Objectives: To assess prevalence of likely posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in patients attending the only out-of-hours primary care clinic in Fort McMurray some 18 months following a major fire. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used to collect data through self-administered paper-based questionnaires to determine likely PTSD, MDD, and GAD using the PTSD Checklists for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) 5, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) 9, and GAD-7, respectively, from residents of Fort McMurray who were impacted by the wildfires. This was carried out eighteen (18) months after a major wildfire, which required the rapid evacuation of the entire city population (approximately 90,000 individuals). Results: We achieved a response rate of 48% and results from the 290 respondents showed the 1 month prevalence rate for likely PTSD was 13.6%, likely MDD was 24.8%, and likely GAD was 18.0%. Compared to self-reported prevalence rates before the wildfire (0%, 15.2%, and 14.5% respectively), these were increased for all diagnoses. After controlling for other factors in a logistic regression model, there were statistically significant associations between individuals who had likely PTSD, MDD, and GAD diagnoses and multiple socio-demographic, clinical, and exposure-related variables as follows: PTSD: History of anxiety disorder and received counselling had odds ratios (ORs) of 5.80 and 7.14, respectively. MDD: Age, witnessed the burning of homes, history of depressive disorder, and receiving low level support from friends and family had ORs of 2.08, 2.29, 4.63, and 2.5, respectively. GAD: Fearful for their lives or the lives of friends/family, history of depressive disorder, and history of anxiety disorder had ORs of 3.52, 3.04, and 2.68, respectively. There were also associations between individuals with a likely psychiatric diagnosis and those who also had likely alcohol or drug abuse/dependence. Conclusion: Our study suggests there are high prevalence rates for mental health and addiction conditions in patients attending the out-of-hours clinic 18 months after the wildfires, with significant associations between multiple variables and likely PTSD, MDD, and GAD. Further studies are needed to explore the impact of population-based mental health interventions on the long-term mental health effects of the wildfires.

The Fort McMurray wildfire was the costliest disaster in Canadian history, with far-reaching impacts. The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence and risk factors of elevated generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptomatology in residents of Fort McMurray 6 months after the wildfire. Data were collected via random selection procedures from 486 participants. Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms were measured via the GAD-7. The 1-month prevalence rate for GAD symptomatology 6 months after the disaster was 19.8% overall, regression analyses revealed six variables with significant unique contributions to prediction of GAD symptomatology. Significant predictors were: pre-existing anxiety disorder, witnessing of homes being destroyed by the wildfire, living in a different home after the wildfire, receiving limited governmental support or limited family support, and receiving counseling after the wildfire. Participants with these risk factors were between two to nearly seven times more likely to present with GAD symptomatology. In addition, participants who presented with elevated symptomatology were more likely to increase use or problematically use substances post-disaster. This study extends the literature on mental health conditions and risk factors following disasters, specifically in the area of generalized anxiety. Findings and implications are discussed.