As wildfires increase in frequency and severity worldwide, emerging studies reveal significant long-lasting psychological effects on children and adolescents. Experts call for integrated mental health support in disaster response to prevent lasting trauma.
Wildfires and other major disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe worldwide, and children and adolescents are among the people most exposed to the psychological fallout. According to Greek psychiatrist and researcher who wrote the lead article, trauma from such events is often broader and longer lasting than other forms of injury because it affects whole communities, not just individuals. Young people are especially vulnerable because they have less experience and fewer coping tools when disaster strikes.
Research on disasters shows that children and teenagers can develop post-traumatic stress symptoms after fires, including reliving the event, avoidance, hypervigilance, negative thoughts and mood changes. The American Academy of Pediatrics also notes that children may respond with anxiety, sadness, grief, sleep problems, irritability, concentration difficulties and behavioural outbursts, while adolescents may also turn to risky behaviour or substance use. In some cases, these reactions are accompanied by depression, fear, dissociation and a lower sense of self-worth.
The encouraging news is that most people recover gradually with time and support. But for those whose symptoms persist for months or years, trauma-focused psychotherapies have evidence of benefit, and recent reviews suggest that school-based interventions can reduce post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety in children and adolescents after natural disasters. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention advises parents and carers to keep routines as stable as possible, limit overwhelming media exposure and seek professional help if distress continues.
The lead article points to several studies showing that the effects of fire can be profound and long term. After the 2001 café fire in Volendam in the Netherlands, teenagers who survived and their classmates showed similar psychological effects. Following the 1998 nightclub fire in Gothenburg, Sweden, researchers found high rates of post-traumatic stress 18 months later, along with school disruption. A study 25 years after the 1978 hotel fire in Borås found that for more than half the victims, the event had shaped their lives in lasting ways.
Greek studies tell a similar story. Four months after the 2007 fires in Laconia, researchers reported high rates of post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression and anxiety among minors. A later study published in 2025 on the Mati fire of 2018 found that 44.5% of teenagers still had clinically significant post-traumatic stress symptoms 10 months after the disaster. In both studies, exposure factors such as a threat to a loved one’s life or separation from a parent were linked to greater risk.
The broader message from the research is clear: disaster response must include mental health care for children and adolescents, not only emergency physical relief. The Greek psychiatrist argues that authorities should be ready to screen pupils in schools after major traumatic events and to provide properly organised treatment to prevent chronic post-traumatic reactions and secondary depression. Above all, the presence of calm, attentive adults remains the strongest protective factor. Parents and guardians can help by listening, offering reassurance, preserving daily routines where possible and seeking specialist support when children show persistent signs of distress.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
