SELF-PERCEIVED WILDFIRE SMOKE EXPOSURE AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES AMONG CANADIAN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Climate change contributes to increasingly severe wildfires and wildfire smoke (WFS) in Canada. WFS exposure may impact adolescent mental health; however, there is little empirical research on this. In this thesis, survey data of self-perceived WFS exposure, mental health problems, and climate worry among adolescents were utilized. Through multiple linear regression, the relationships between WFS exposure and depression, anxiety, stress, and climate worry were explored. Findings indicated that depression, anxiety, stress, and climate worry scores among participants who experienced only WFS in the last 12 months were not significantly different compared to non-exposed participants. Individuals who experienced WFS and four or more other climate change related acute events had higher anxiety, stress, and climate worry than non-exposed participants. These findings are relevant to the mental health counselling field. Counsellors may benefit from specialized training, and adolescents exposed to multiple climate change related acute events may benefit from counselling support.