Sixteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

The 2016 Alberta wildfires resulted in devastating human, economic, and environmental impacts. Very little research has examined pediatric resilience (5-18 years) in disaster-affected communities. Children and adolescents 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 adolescents also demonstrate resilience when faced with traumatic experiences like disasters, and can act as powerful catalysts for change in their families and communities in the post-disaster environment. Findings from the study ‘Health Effects of the Alberta Wildfires: Pediatric Resilience’ are shared 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. This paper discusses the perspectives of community influencers (n=37) on how to foster child and youth resilience, and best support the mental health, well-being, and overall recovery post-disaster. The implications that these findings have for enhancing sustainability in economic, social, and cultural contexts arediscussed following environmental disasters. The study is a collaborative research initiative undertaken by academic researchers, community and government partners, and stakeholders, and is funded by Alberta Innovates, Canadian Red Cross, and Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), from 2016-2020.