Understanding child and youth resilience in the aftermath of disasters: The case of the 2016 Alberta wildfires in Canada

[MP3-12] Understanding child and youth resilience in the aftermath of disasters: The case of the 2016 Alberta wildfires in Canada

Dr. Julie Drolet (Professor, University of Calgary)

The 2016 Alberta wildfires resulted in devastating human, economic and environmental impacts. Children and youth are particularly affected by disasters because of their dependence on adults, and psychological and social factors related to their developmental stage, life cycle, and structural vulnerabilities. However, children and youth also demonstrate resilience when faced with disasters, and can act as powerful catalysts for change in their families and communities in the post-disaster environment. Resilience is defined as both an individual capacity to identify and access resources (e.g., psychological, social, cultural, and physical) and the individual and collective ability to ensure the equitable and culturally relevant provision and access to these resources. Findings from the study ‘Health Effects of the Alberta Wildfires: Pediatric Resilience’ will be presented on the physical, psychological, emotional, and health effects of the 2016 wildfires on children and youth (5-18 years) in order to better understand the social, economic, cultural, personal, and health factors that contribute to positive mental health and resiliency. A mixed methods research design was used to investigate the experiences of children and youth at the population level and at the individual and community level. Using qualitative data collected through face-to-face interviews with 130 participants (100 children and 30 community service providers), we discuss the unique challenges that children face as a result of experiencing the wildfire, the factors, mechanisms, and conditions that influence and support children’s resilience, and the specific ways that community influencers can best support the mental health, well-being, and overall recovery post-disaster. We discuss the implications of these findings for contributing to a better understanding of child and youth resilience, and for informing program and service interventions that will foster disaster recovery and community resilience. The study is funded by Alberta Innovates, Canadian Red Cross, and Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).