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Integrating Mental Health Care in Disaster Recovery:
An Analysis of British Columbia's Government Strategies
Julia Nina Padilha

Introduction

Discussion

This study explores the research question: ”How does the government
of British Columbia integrate mental health care and support into the
disaster recovery process?” Disasters often have complex and longlasting psychological impacts, yet mental health support remains
underrepresented in emergency management frameworks. This
research assesses current practices, identifies gaps, and proposes
improvements to strengthen policies, raise awareness, and enhance
collaboration between emergency management and mental health
professionals—addressing both short- and long-term mental health
needs during disaster recovery.

There is a limited research in Canada on disaster-related mental
health impacts and the effectiveness of recovery programs. Most
available interventions, like Psychological First Aid and Red Cross
services, are short-term and not equipped to address long-term issues
such as PTSD or substance use.
Access to specialized care remains limited—especially in rural and
Indigenous communities—where services are mostly provided by
NGOs and peer-led groups. Despite some monitoring through KPIs,
there is no standardized method to evaluate long-term outcomes.
Mental health is often overlooked in disaster recovery planning. To
close these gaps, British Columbia must adopt inclusive, evidencebased strategies that treat mental health as a core part of recovery
and a fundamental human right.

Background
Disasters not only cause physical, environmental, and economic
damage—they also have serious psychological and social impacts.
Emotional trauma, loss, and displacement often lead to increased
rates of PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide
(Weissbecker, 2009; WHO, 2022), especially among vulnerable groups
such as women, children, the elderly, and refugees. Youth are
particularly at risk for long-term psychological effects (Thomas et al.,
2013). The severity of these impacts depends on factors such as the
type and scale of the disaster, the level of community preparedness,
and the effectiveness of the response (EMBC, 2022c). For recovery to
be effective and equitable, mental health care and psychosocial
support must be fully integrated into disaster recovery plans, ensuring
sustained and inclusive support for affected individuals and
communities.

Methods
This study used a qualitative secondary research approach,
conducting a comprehensive literature review of official documents
and academic sources related to emergency management, disaster
recovery, and mental health in British Columbia. Government sources
included legislation, policies, and reports retrieved from official BC
websites such as BC Laws, GOV BC, EmergencyInfoBC, BC Emergency
Health Services, and the Provincial Health Services Authority.
To examine the mental health impacts of disasters and the application
of psychosocial interventions during recovery, academic database
searches were conducted using keywords such as: “Mental Health” OR
“Psychological” AND “Disaster” OR “Disaster Recovery” OR
“Emergency Management” AND “British Columbia” OR “BC.” Filters
were applied to include peer-reviewed articles in English, French,
Portuguese, or Spanish and based in the Canadian context. Out of 214
initial results, 15 abstracts were reviewed, and 8 articles were
selected for full analysis based on their relevance to the study's
objectives.

Findings
Research reveals a significant gap in studies addressing disasterrelated mental health impacts in Canada, despite the frequency of
emergencies and large-scale evacuations—such as the 2017 and 2018
wildfires in British Columbia (Government of Canada, n.d.). Most
available literature focuses on COVID-19 and reports increased rates
of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance use, particularly among
vulnerable populations such as Indigenous, rural, and low-income
communities (Varin et al., 2021; Liu et al., 2023; Weeks et al., 2025;
Shields et al., 2021; Rao et al., 2024).
In British Columbia, recovery efforts offer short-term supports
including Psychological First Aid, wellness workshops, and crisis lines
(EMBC, 2024). Services are delivered through a multi-agency network,
with culturally appropriate programs in place for Indigenous
communities (EMBC, 2022a; 2022b; 2024). However, access to
specialized mental health care remains limited, and there is no
standardized method to evaluate the effectiveness of mental health
recovery efforts. Current monitoring relies on indicators such as crisis
line usage, participation rates, and community wellness assessments.

Recommendations
To strengthen disaster recovery in British Columbia, mental health
must be fully integrated into emergency management from response
through long-term recovery. This requires coordinated efforts among
governments, health agencies, NGOs, and Indigenous organizations to
ensure culturally appropriate and continuous care.
More research is needed on the long-term psychological impacts of
disasters and on the effectiveness of programs and resources. Policies
should mandate mental health recovery plans, long-term monitoring,
and stable funding. Creating a Provincial Mental Health Task Force
would support coordination across agencies.
Improving access to care is critical. Expanding mobile teams,
telehealth, and embedding mental health professionals in Emergency
Support Services would help reach underserved populations,
especially in rural and Indigenous communities. Community-based
supports, peer networks, and safe gathering spaces should be
promoted to foster emotional support and social connection.
Finally, standardized tools are needed to evaluate recovery efforts. A
provincial assessment framework and annual mental health reporting
can ensure recovery strategies are evidence-based, adaptive, and
responsive to community needs.

References
Emergency Management BC. (2022a). Policy 2.14: First Nations Community Navigator for Emergency Support Services. Government of British Columbia.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-responserecovery/embc/policies/214_embc_community_navigator_for_ess_policy.pdf
Emergency Management BC. (2022b). Policy 2.15: Cultural Activity Location Support. Government of British Columbia.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-responserecovery/embc/policies/215_embc_cultural_activites_location_support_cals_policy.pdf
Emergency Management BC. (2022c). Recovery guide for local authorities and First Nations. Government of British Columbia.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/localgovernment/disaster_recovery_guide.pdf
Emergency Management BC. (2024). Disaster recovery toolkit for community mental health and wellness. Government of British Columbia.
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C%27HU%27%2C%27SO%27%2C%27SS%27%2C%27ST%27%2C%27TO%27%2C%27WF%27%2C%27SW%27%2C%27EQ%27%2C%27LS%
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Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Disaster Management

Justice Institute of British Columbia