Motion M-20: National strategy for addressing the mental health impacts of emergencies
Mass casualty events leave scars on their communities for years afterward. Evacuations, property loss, grief and uncertainty resulting from emergencies have shown to have lasting impacts on mental health and can exasperate mental illness. With the threat of wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters is on the rise as a result of climate change, the time to act is now.
That’s why MP Johns introduced Motion M-20. The motion calls on the government to join the United States, Australia, and New Zealand in developing a national framework for addressing mental health impacts after major natural disasters and mass casualty events. Such a strategy would support victims, as well as the mental health of our first line of defence against environmental catastrophes: wildland/forest firefighters and other first responders.