The Eaton fire, which erupted Jan. 7, has destroyed more than 12,000 buildings and forced more than 200,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
Experts have warned that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, putting additional strain on already overwhelmed mental health systems. Lisa Patel, MD, executive director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, told KFF Health News that low-income populations in particular face significant barriers to accessing mental health services, making timely interventions more critical.
In addition to counseling, the mental health teams are focused on reducing anxiety by helping evacuees access basic needs such as housing, medication and vital information. Early research suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke can also harm brain health, according to the report.