Mental Health Impacts of Wildfire, Flooding and COVID-19 on Fort McMurray School Board Staff and Other Employees: A Comparative Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design
2.2. Ethics Statement and Consent
2.3. Study Setting
2.4. Data Collection Tool and Outcome Measures
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
4.1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
4.2. Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD)
4.3. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
4.4. Support/Resiliency
4.5. Limitations
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Variables | Employer | p-Value | Chi- Square | Effect Size Phi/Cramer’s V | Overall | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
School Board | Other Employment | |||||
Gender | ||||||
Male | 8 (33.3%) | 16 (66.7%) | 0.123 | 3.093 | 0.133 | 24 (100.0%) |
Female | 79 (52.7%) | 71 (47.3%) | 150 (100.0%) | |||
Age in years | ||||||
≤25 | 3 (3.4%) | 5 (5.7%) | 0.710 | 0.634 | 0.060 | 8 (4.6%) |
26–40 | 38 (43.7%) | 35 (40.2%) | 73 (42.0%) | |||
>40 | 46 (52.9%) | 47 (54.0%) | 93 (53.4%) | |||
Marital Status | ||||||
Married/Partner/Cohabiting | 65 (74.7%) | 59 (67.8%) | 0.339 | 2.29 | 0.115 | 124 (71.3%) |
Divorce/Widowed/Separated | 6 (6.9%) | 12 (13.8%) | 18 (10.3%) | |||
Single | 16 (18.4%) | 16 (18.4%) | 32 (18.4%) | |||
Residence during 2016 wildfires | ||||||
Fort McMurray | 71 (84.5%) | 78 (95.1%) | 0.038 | 5.07 | 0.175 | 149 (89.8%) |
Other | 13 (15.5%) | 4 (4.9%) | 17 (10.2%) | |||
Specific Residence during 2016 wildfire | ||||||
0–1.0 properties destroyed per km2 | 43 (57.3%) | 27 (33.8%) | 0.002 | 12.405 | 0.283 | 70 (45.2%) |
1.1–50.0 properties destroyed per km2 | 21 (28.0%) | 23 (28.7%) | 44 (28.4%) | |||
50.1–300.0 properties destroyed per km2 | 11 (14.7%) | 30 (37.5%) | 41 (26.5%) | |||
Witnessed burning of homes during 2016 wildfires | ||||||
No | 16 (19%) | 12 (14.6%) | 0.536 | 0.576 | 0.059 | 28 (16.9%) |
Yes | 68 (81.0%) | 70 (85.4%) | 138 (83.1%) | |||
Home completely destroyed | ||||||
No | 80 (92.0%) | 67 (77.0%) | 0.011 | 7.409 | 0.206 | 147 (84.5%) |
Yes | 7 (8.0%) | 20 (23.0%) | 27 (15.5%) | |||
Fearful for life/family/friends on evacuation day | ||||||
No | 11 (13.1%) | 8 (9.8%) | 0.627 | 0.456 | 0.052 | 19 (11.4%) |
Yes | 73 (86.9%) | 74 (90.2%) | 147 (88.6%) | |||
Frequency of watching television images related to wildfire devastation during period of evacuation | ||||||
Daily | 66 (78.6%) | 67 (81.7%) | 0.916 | 0.364 | 0.047 | 133 (80.1%) |
<Daily | 11 (13.1%) | 10 (12.2%) | 21 (12.7%) | |||
I did not watch the TV images of the devastation | 7 (8.3%) | 5 (6.1%) | 12 (7.2%) | |||
Frequency of reading newspaper/internet article related to devastation by wildfire during period of evacuation | ||||||
Daily | 68 (81.0%) | 73 (89.0%) | 0.305 | 2.733 | 0.128 | 141 (84.9%) |
<Daily | 13 (15.5%) | 6 (7.3%) | 19 (11.4%) | |||
I did not read newspaper and internet articles related to the devastation | 3 (3.6%) | 3 (3.7%) | 6 (3.6%) | |||
Support from family/friend after the evacuation order | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 59 (72.0%) | 52 (63.4%) | 111 (67.7%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 14 (17.1%) | 17 (20.7%) | 0.141 | 5.501 | 0.183 | 31 (18.9%) |
Yes. But only limited support | 3 (3.7%) | 10 (12.2%) | 13 (7.9%) | |||
Not at all | 6 (7.3%) | 3 (3.7%) | 9 (5.5%) | |||
Support from Red Cross after evacuation order | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 43 (52.4%) | 30 (36.6%) | 73 (44.5%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 23 (28.0%) | 28 (34.1%) | 51 (31.1%) | |||
Yes. But only limited support | 7 (8.5%) | 11 (13.4%) | 0.224 | 4.421 | 0.164 | 18 (11.0%) |
Not at all | 9 (11.0%) | 13 (15.9%) | 22 (13.4%) | |||
Support from Government of Alberta after evacuation order | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 32 (39.5%) | 24 (29.3%) | 56 (34.4%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 21 (25.9%) | 26 (31.7%) | 47 (28.8%) | |||
Yes. But only limited support | 12 (14.8%) | 17 (20.7%) | 0.469 | 2.563 | 0.125 | 29 (17.8%) |
Not at all | 16 (19.8%) | 15 (18.3%) | 31 (19.0%) |
Variables | Employer | p-Value | Chi- Square | Effect Size Phi/Cramer’s V | Overall | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
School Board | Other Employment | |||||
Specific Residence during 2020 flooding | ||||||
Resided in areas not affected by the floods | 75 (90.4%) | 63 (75.9%) | 0.021 | 6.186 | 0.193 | 138 (83.1%) |
Resided in flooded areas | 8 (9.6%) | 20 (24.1%) | 28 (16.9%) | |||
Witness flooding of homes or structures in Fort McMurray | ||||||
No | 22 (27.2%) | 17 (20.7%) | 0.363 | 0.925 | 0.075 | 39 (23.9%) |
Yes | 59 (72.8%) | 65 (79.3%) | 124 (76.1%) | |||
Fearful for self/family/friends’ life during flooding | ||||||
No | 61 (75.3%) | 55 (67.1%) | 0.300 | 1.347 | 0.091 | 116 (71.2%) |
Yes | 20 (24.7%) | 27 (32.9%) | 47 (28.8%) | |||
Frequency of watching television images related to 2020 flooding devastation | ||||||
Daily | 52 (64.2%) | 57 (69.5%) | 0.627 | 1.028 | 0.079 | 109 (66.9%) |
Less than daily | 19 (23.5%) | 14 (17.1%) | 33 (20.2%) | |||
Did not watch the TV images of the devastation | 10 (12.3%) | 11 (13.4%) | 21 (12.9%) | |||
Frequency of reading newspaper/internet article related to devastation by 2020 flooding | ||||||
Daily | 62 (76.5%) | 63 (77.8%) | 125 (77.2%) | |||
Less than daily | 16 (19.8%) | 15 (18.5%) | 1.000 | 0.040 | 0.016 | 31 (19.1%) |
Did not read newspaper and internet articles related to the devastation | 3 (3.7%) | 3 (3.7%) | 6 (3.7%) | |||
Substantial home damage | ||||||
No | 84 (96.6%) | 81 (93.1%) | 0.496 | 1.055 | 0.078 | 165 (94.8%) |
Yes | 3 (3.4%) | 6 (6.9%) | 9 (0.2%) | |||
Lost property due to flood | ||||||
No lost | 81 (93.1%) | 72 (82.8%) | 0.061 | 4.387 | 0.159 | 153 (87.9%) |
Yes lost | 6 (6.9%) | 15 (17.2%) | 21 (12.1%) | |||
Support from family/friend during/after flood | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 41 (51.9%) | 30 (39.0%) | 71 (45.5%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 7 (8.9%) | 15 (19.5%) | 22 (14.1%) | |||
Yes. But only limited support | 3 (3.8%) | 14 (18.2%) | 17 (10.9%) | |||
Not at all | 28 (35.4%) | 18 (23.4%) | 0.003 | 13.882 | 0.298 | 46 (29.5%) |
Support from Red Cross during/after flood | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 7 (8.9%) | 6 (7.4%) | 13 (8.1%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (3.7%) | 3 (1.9%) | |||
Yes. But only limited support | 1 (1.3%) | 6 (7.4%) | 0.052 | 8.863 | 0.235 | 7 (4.4%) |
Not at all | 3 (3.8%) | 7 (8.6%) | 10 (6.3%) | |||
Not Applicable as I was not impacted by the floods | 68 (86.1%) | 59 (72.8%) | 127 (79.4%) | |||
Support from Government of Alberta during/after flood | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 5 (6.3%) | 6 (7.4%) | 11 (6.9%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 0 (0.0%) | 4 (4.9%) | 4 (2.5%) | |||
Yes. But only limited support | 2 (2.5%) | 4 (4.9%) | 6 (3.8%) | |||
Not at all | 5 (6.3%) | 7 (8.6%) | 0.249 | 5.453 | 0.185 | 12 (7.5%) |
Not Applicable as I was not impacted by the floods | 67 (84.8%) | 60 (74.1%) | 127 (79.4%) | |||
Support from Insurers during/after flood | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 1 (1.3%) | 4 (4.9%) | 5 (3.1%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 1 (1.3%) | 3 (3.7%) | 4 (2.5%) | |||
Yes. But only limited support | 4 (5.1%) | 3 (3.7%) | 0.250 | 5.560 | 0.186 | 7 (4.4%) |
Not at all | 3 (3.8%) | 8 (9.9%) | 11 (6.9%) | |||
Not Applicable as I was not impacted by the floods | 70 (88.6%) | 63 (77.8%) | 133 (83.1%) |
Variables | Employer | p-Value | Chi- Square | Effect Size Phi/Cramer’s V | Overall | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
School Board | Other Employment | |||||
Fearful contracting coronavirus | ||||||
No | 6 (7.4%) | 7 (8.5%) | 1.000 | 0.071 | 0.021 | 13 (8.0%) |
Yes | 75 (92.6%) | 75 (91.5%) | 150 (92.0%) | |||
Fearful for close friends/family contracting coronavirus | ||||||
No | 3 (3.7%) | 3 (3.7%) | 1.000 | 0.000 | 0.001 | 6 (3.7%) |
Yes | 78 (96.3%) | 79 (96.3%) | 157% (96.3%) | |||
Any close friends/family member sick from coronavirus | ||||||
No | 17 (21.0%) | 27 (33.8%) | 0.079 | 3.301 | 0.143 | 44 (27.3%) |
Yes | 64 (79.0%) | 53 (66.3%) | 117 (72.7%) | |||
Had to self-isolate or self-quarantine due to COVID-19 symptoms | ||||||
No | 27 (33.3%) | 35 (43.2%) | 0.258 | 1.672 | 0.102 | 62 (38.3%) |
Yes | 54 (66.7%) | 46 (56.8%) | 100 61.7%) | |||
Frequency of watching images of sick/dead COVID-19 people | ||||||
Daily | 39 (48.1%) | 35 (42.7%) | 74 (45.4%) | |||
<Daily | 32 (39.5%) | 36 (43.9%) | 0.802 | 0.493 | 0.055 | 68 (41.7%) |
I did not watch the TV images of the pandemic | 10 (12.3%) | 11 (13.4%) | 21 (12.9%) | |||
Frequency of reading newspaper/internet article related to pandemic | ||||||
Daily | 48 (59.3%) | 50 (61.0%) | 98 (60.1%) | |||
<Daily | 31 (38.3%) | 31 (37.8%) | 0.951 | 0.368 | 0.048 | 62 (38.0%0 |
I did not read newspaper and internet articles related to the pandemic | 2 (2.5%) | 1 (1.2%) | 3 (1.8%) | |||
Lost job due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||
No | 73 (90.1%) | 74 (90.2%) | 1.000 | 0.001 | 0.002 | 147 (90.2%) |
Yes | 8 (9.9%) | 8 (9.8%) | 16 (9.8%) | |||
Support from family/friends since pandemic | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 38 (47.5%) | 35 (42.7%) | 73 (45.1%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 24 (30.0%) | 28 (34.1%) | 0.646 | 1.734 | 0.103 | 52 (32.1%) |
Yes. But only limited support | 9 (11.3%) | 13 (15.9%) | 22 (13.6%) | |||
Not at all | 9 (11.3%) | 6 (7.3%) | 15 (9.3%) | |||
Support from Government of Canada since pandemic | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 14 (17.9%) | 8 (10.0%) | 22 (13.9%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 15 (19.2%) | 11 (13.8%) | 26 (16.5%) | |||
Yes. But only limited support | 13 (16.7%) | 11 (13.8%) | 24 (15.2%) | |||
Not at all | 36 (46.2%) | 50 (62.5%) | 0.201 | 4.673 | 0.172 | 24 (15.2%) |
Support from Government of Alberta since pandemic | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 12 (15.2%) | 4 (5.0%) | 16 (10.1%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 14 (17.7%) | 9 (11.3%) | 23 (14.5%) | |||
Yes. But only limited support | 9 (11.4%) | 10 (12.5%) | 0.078 | 6.807 | 0.207 | 19 (11.9%) |
Not at all | 44 (55.7) | 57 (71.3%) | 101 (63.5%) | |||
Support from employer since pandemic | ||||||
Yes. I have had absolute support | 37 (46.3%) | 39 (48.1%) | 76 (47.2%) | |||
Yes. I have had some support | 29 (36.3%) | 15 (18.5%) | 44 (27.3%) | |||
Yes. But only limited support | 11 (13.8%) | 13 (16.0%) | 0.007 | 11.786 | 0.271 | 24 (14.9%) |
Not at all | 3 (3.8%) | 14 (17.3%) | 17 (10.6%) |
Variables | Employer | p-Value | Chi- Square | Effect Size Phi/Cramer’s V | Overall | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
School Board | Other Employment | |||||
Have received a Mental Health Diagnosis | ||||||
Yes | 38 (43.7%) | 53 (60.9%) | 91 (52.3%) | |||
No | 49 (56.3%) | 34 (39.1%) | 0.033 | 5.183 | 0.173 | 83 (47.7%) |
Have been diagnosed with Depression | ||||||
Yes | 19 (21.8%) | 35 (40.2%) | 54 (31.0%) | |||
No | 68 (78.2%) | 52 (59.8%) | 0.014 | 6.874 | 0.199 | 120 (69.0%) |
Have been diagnosed with Anxiety | ||||||
Yes | 32 (36.8%) | 42 (48.3%) | 74 (42.5%) | |||
No | 55 (63.2%) | 45 (51.7%) | 0.167 | 2.351 | 0.116 | 100 (57.5) |
Currently taking antidepressants | ||||||
Yes | 26 (29.9%) | 28 (32.2%) | 54 (31.0%) | |||
No | 61 (70.1%) | 59 (67.8%) | 0.870 | 0.107 | 0.025 | 120 (69.0%) |
Currently taking sleeping tablets | ||||||
Yes | 8 (9.2%) | 9 (10.3%) | 17 (9.8%) | |||
No | 79 (90.8%) | 78 (89.7%) | 1.000 | 0.65 | 0.019 | 157 (90.2%) |
Received Mental health counselling in the past year | ||||||
Yes | 25 (28.7%) | 38 (43.7%) | 63 (36.2%) | |||
No | 62 (71.3%) | 49 (56.3%) | 0.058 | 4.205 | 0.155 | 111 (63.8%) |
Would like to receive mental health counselling | ||||||
Yes | 40 (46.0%) | 49 (56.3%) | 89 (51.1%) | |||
No | 47 (54.0%) | 38 (43.7%) | 0.225 | 1.863 | 0.103 | 85 (48.9%) |
Resilience | ||||||
High to normal resilience | 51 (65.4%) | 53 (64.6%) | 104 (65.0%) | |||
Low resilience | 27 (34.6%) | 29 (35.4%) | 1.000 | 0.010 | 0.008 | 56 (35.0%) |
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) | ||||||
MDD Unlikely | 49 (64.5%) | 42 (51.2%) | 91 (57.6%) | |||
MDD Likely | 27 (35.5%) | 40 (48.8%) | 0.108 | 2.837 | 0.134 | 67 (42.4%) |
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) | ||||||
GAD Unlikely | 50 (66.7%) | 44 (53.7%) | 0.106 | 2.759 | 0.133 | 94 (59.9%) |
GAD Likely | 25 (33.3%) | 38 (46.3%) | 63 (40.1%) | |||
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | ||||||
PTSD Unlikely | 54 (72.0%) | 44 (55.0%) | 98 (63.2%) | |||
PTSD Likely | 21 (28.0%) | 36 (45.0%) | 0.031 | 4.811 | 0.176 | 57 (36.8%) |
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Agyapong, B.; Eboreime, E.; Shalaby, R.; Pazderka, H.; Obuobi-Donkor, G.; Adu, M.K.; Mao, W.; Oluwasina, F.; Owusu, E.; Greenshaw, A.J.; et al. Mental Health Impacts of Wildfire, Flooding and COVID-19 on Fort McMurray School Board Staff and Other Employees: A Comparative Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 435. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010435
Agyapong B, Eboreime E, Shalaby R, Pazderka H, Obuobi-Donkor G, Adu MK, Mao W, Oluwasina F, Owusu E, Greenshaw AJ, et al. Mental Health Impacts of Wildfire, Flooding and COVID-19 on Fort McMurray School Board Staff and Other Employees: A Comparative Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(1):435. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010435
Chicago/Turabian StyleAgyapong, Belinda, Ejemai Eboreime, Reham Shalaby, Hannah Pazderka, Gloria Obuobi-Donkor, Medard K. Adu, Wanying Mao, Folajinmi Oluwasina, Ernest Owusu, Andrew J. Greenshaw, and et al. 2022. "Mental Health Impacts of Wildfire, Flooding and COVID-19 on Fort McMurray School Board Staff and Other Employees: A Comparative Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 1: 435. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010435