[2023-06-07] Coping in times of stress
Today is Clean Air Day, "a day to recognize how important good air quality is to our health, our environment, and the economy." I can't recall having heard of Clean Air Day before today, despite its having been celebrated in Canada since 1999 as part of Canadian Environment Week. However, it's fitting (or ironic, depending on your perspective) that we would note the importance of clean air on a day when air quality in many parts of Canada was negatively impacted by smoke from wildland fires. As the Government of Canada states on its webpage about Clean Air Day, "Air pollution knows no boundaries. It can affect every area of Canada."
Some people I know have expressed worries about the current situation, fueled in part by not knowing when the fires and the resulting smoke will end. Everything I've read validates that it's normal and understandable to feel anxious. For example, the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia notes: "Disasters like wildfires affect individuals in many ways and may affect your emotional, spiritual, physical and mental well-being.... Even the prospect of living with smoky skies during wildfire season can cause distress." And Ottawa Public Health states: "We’ve had smoky air for 2 days now, and it is normal to feel anxious or isolated during things like this."
One tool I find helpful to address the "when will it end?" question is the Government of Canada's Air Quality Health Index, which presents the most recent forecast values for air quality in many Canadian cities. Choosing a province will bring up additional cities beyond those listed on the summary page. Ottawa is currently assessed as 4 (moderate risk) and is projected to rise to 6 (still considered moderate risk) Wednesday evening before falling back to 4 on Thursday and dropping to 3 (low risk) on Thursday evening, and into Friday. I recognize that forecasts can change, but these predictions provide some comfort that things will get better.
I read a number of webpages on how to cope during a natural disaster and found the following tips most relevant to people indirectly affected by such things as air pollution. On its webpage Coping With Disaster, Mental Health America suggests (among other things):
- Talk about it. By talking with others about the event, you can relieve stress and realize that others share your feelings.
- Spend time with friends and family. They can help you through this tough time. If your family lives outside the area, stay in touch by phone. If you have any children, encourage them to share their concerns and feelings about the disaster with you.
- Limit exposure to images of the disaster. Watching or reading news about the event over and over again will only increase your stress.
- Ask for help when you need it. If you have strong feelings that won’t go away or if you are troubled for longer than four to six weeks, you may want to seek professional help.
Of these tips, my favourite is "Limit exposure to images of the disaster."
In how to cope with the stress of natural disasters, Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation (or headspace) writes: "Be mindful of exposure to traumatic information through stories, traditional and social media. It can be helpful to take regular breaks from the 24-hour news cycle." My own experience is that while reducing your consumption of traditional and social media is helpful, it may also mean that you miss out on comforting news and positive stories that could provide hope. In those cases, it can be useful to have a caring friend who can filter out unduly negative content while sharing optimistic reports.
I personally take comfort in seeing stories of helpers. I often quote Fred Rogers, who said:
When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.
I loved reading about the South African firefighters who sang and danced at the Edmonton airport when they arrived in Canada a few days ago to help battle blazes in that province. And I appreciated the story of the people of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean (where my husband was born and raised) who had opened up their homes to fellow Quebecers forced to leave theirs because of the fires.
One final suggestion that may be useful: the National Youth Mental Health Foundation suggests that "Being with people who understand you and are calm can help you maintain calmness as well."
