CMHA Kelowna

Supporting a Mentally Healthy Kelowna

  • Mental Health
    • Find Help Now
    • Learn About Mental Illnesses
    • Explore Your Mental Health
    • Talking to Teens About Mental Health
    • Supporting a Friend or Family Member
    • Workplace Mental Health
    • Preventing Suicide
  • Programs & Services
    • Youth & Families
      • Foundry Kelowna
      • Foundry Kelowna’s Wellness on Wheels
      • Youth Housing & Services
    • Housing
      • CMHA Kelowna Housing
      • Youth Housing & Services
      • Central Okanagan Rent Bank
      • Rent Supplements
      • Case Management
      • Homelessness Outreach Navigator
      • Scattered Sites Program
    • Wellness
    • Virtual Counselling Services
  • Community Education
  • Ways to Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Events & Activities Calendar
    • Host, Sponsor or Support an Event
    • The Payton & Dillon Budd Memorial Ride
    • Volunteer
  • Discovery College
  • About Us

Home » News » Coping with natural disaster stress

Coping with natural disaster stress

November 17, 2021 By Aaryn Secker Leave a Comment

Tens of thousands of British Columbians are going through upheaval right now as flooding takes place throughout the province. Mental health experts warn that the emotional toll of disaster can be as devastating as the financial strains of damage and loss of home, business or personal property.

Floods, evacuations, loss, worry—BC’s floods and wildfires affect us all. If you are feeling stressed or anxious, you are not alone. Here are some things you can do:

  • Prepare – Having a clear emergency plan and kit ready for your family, pets and livestock can ease your mind and allow you to focus on other needs.
  • Take care – Stress takes a toll on our physical and mental health. Eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep lowers stress and helps us cope.
  • Ask for help – Talking helps. Whether it’s with family, friends, a doctor or counsellor. Crisis lines are available to listen and help anytime—not just during a crisis. If you have been evacuated,  Emergency Support Services has resources to support you. You can also ask an ESS volunteer about the mental health or counselling support available to you.
  • Help others – Reach out to the vulnerable. Assisting others can help us regain a sense of purpose and community as we confront challenges together.
WATCH OUR What Really Works? LIVE PODCAST ON MANAGING DISASTER AND WILDFIRE STRESS

Helpful links and resources

Health and mental health

  • Coping through a natural disaster emergency – mental health tips for you and your family
  • Recognizing and addressing trauma and anxiety during wildfire season (First Nations Health Authority)
  • Recognizing and resolving trauma in children during disasters (First Nations Health Authority)
  • Disaster emotional response timeline – what to expect before, during and after a disaster
  • Your health during a wildfire (Government of BC)
  • Wildfire smoke and health (BC Centre for Disease Control)

Direct help for stress

  • Free, confidential support and crisis lines available 24/7:
    KUU-US Indigenous line 1-800-588-8717
    Interior BC Crisis Line 1-888-353-2273 – chat and text services available
    Northern BC Crisis Line 1-888-562-1214
    BC Mental Health Support Line 310-6789 (no area code required)
  • BounceBack – a free skill-building program for overcoming low mood, anxiety stress or worry
  • Find your local Canadian Mental Health Association
CMHA BC’s Coping Through Natural Disasters [see below] mental health tips are available now for sharing, downloading and printing in the hopes of supporting those British Columbians currently in harm’s way.

Click here to download the above document as a .pdf file.

This article originally appeared on CMHA BC’s website. Information provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association in partnership with the Province of BC, First Nations Health Authority, Interior Health, Northern Health and Provincial Health Services

Filed Under: News Tagged With: awareness, caregivers, community, coping, disaster stress, family support, floods, help, mental health, prevention, recovery, stress, Wellness, wildfire, wildfire season

More Recent News

Community rallies for Ride
News
June 14, 2022

Community rallies for Ride

Coming together for a common cause was the theme Sunday morning, June 12, as 250 riders and walkers took part in The Payton & Dillon Budd Memorial Ride, presented by the Thomas Alan Budd Foundation. The event raised $106,000 for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kelowna for essential programs and services for mental health […]

Read More
New CEO announced for CMHA Kelowna
News
April 20, 2022

New CEO announced for CMHA Kelowna

April 20, 2022 ~ A new CEO for CMHA Kelowna has been announced. Mike Gawliuk, currently the Director of Service Delivery and Program Innovation at the organization, has accepted the role of CEO effective June 1, 2022. After completing a rigorous selection process, CMHA Kelowna Board Chair Stuart Yanow says Mike’s incredible experience, knowledge of […]

Read More
Feel like you're running on empty these days? You're not alone.
News
March 1, 2022

Feel like you’re running on empty these days? You’re not alone.

For two years, COVID-19 has plagued us. And for two years, CMHA and UBC have been asking Canadians how they’re doing. Now, in the latest round of research, Canadians are saying they are stressed about what’s coming next. They’re concerned COVID-19 is here to stay. According to the research, 64% of people in Canada are […]

Read More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

WHO WE ARE

ABOUT CMHA KELOWNA
MISSION VISION & VALUES
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OUR TEAM


WHAT WE DO

REPORTS & IMPACT
LATEST NEWS
NEWSLETTER
COMPLAINTS


GET INVOLVED

CAREERS
EVENTS
GET INVOLVED
MEDIA LIBRARY


CONTACT

CMHA Kelowna
504 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna, BC. V1Y 5X1
Phone: 250-861-3644
Fax: 250-763-4827
E-mail: [email protected]

CMHA Kelowna Charitable #: 10686 3392 RR0001

contact us | resources | privacy | site map

Imagin Canada Logo

The Standards Program Trustmark is a mark of Imagine Canada used under licence by Canadian Mental Health Association - Kelowna Branch.

The CMHA Kelowna offices are located on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded lands of the Okanagan Nation and Syilx peoples. We are committed to sustaining relationships with Indigenous people based on respect, dignity, trust, and cooperation in the process of advancing truth and reconciliation.


Copyright © 2022 Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna