Rising From the Ashes: A Digital Mental Health Intervention to Support Students of California Wildfires

• In Event: Special Topics in Counseling

Abstract

In 2017, Northern California endured historic wildfires and subsequent community trauma. The Sonoma Wildfire Mental Health Collaborative was created to (1) democratize access to evidence-based mental health resources and services for personal recovery and long-term community resilience building, and to (2) measure reach and efficacy of the strategies employed in order to create a knowledge base to inform disaster response. Part of a larger study, this presentation highlights the use of a mobile mental health app to potentially enhance the social and emotional health of children. This research presents a new and innovate approach illustrating how mobile mental health apps are especially helpful in the acute stages of disaster as well as the aftermath for youth who may suffer PTSD.

Authors

• Lori Rhodes, Sonoma State University

• Adrienne J. Heinz, Dissemination and Training Division, VA National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• Shannon Wiltsey-Stirman, VA National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,

• Theresa Sharin, Stanford University