LAist.com: How to Talk to Children About Wildfires, Evacuations and Losing a Home

LAist.com and ABCNews.com recently interviewed Cedars-Sinai child and adolescent psychiatrist Rebecca Hedrick, MD, and Jace Reed, MD, director of emergency psychiatry in the Cedars-Sinai Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, about the mental health toll of the L.A. wildfires on adults and children.

Hedrick told LAist.com parents should find healthy ways to express their own emotions, to validate the sadness and anxiety their children may be feeling and encourage them to participate in family discussions about the wildfires.

“Give them an opportunity to help, to think of problem-solving solutions themselves,” she said. “This will help to decrease their sense of helplessness.”

Hedrick told LAist.com that creating a new family ritual—such as having each person name things they miss and things they are thankful for—also can be beneficial for mental health.

“You want to give a voice to the fears, the anger, the sadness, so that there’s a little bit more space in their mind and their heart to be able to open up to the more positive aspects of gratitude and hope,” she said.

Reed told ABCNews.com limiting exposure to related news and social media can help manage anxiety in the aftermath of the wildfires.

“I recommend that people consume this content in moderation and focus on activities that help reduce their stress levels,” he said. 

Reed told ABCNews.com that it’s normal to experience a range of emotions—denial, anger, sadness, shock and hopelessness—after a traumatic event, and that those feelings can intensify over time.

“This emotional response can evolve into later stages, such as acceptance, further sadness, depression and bitterness,” he said.

Experts also recommend leaning on loved ones, participating in activities that reduce stress and seeking professional mental health support.

Click here to read the complete article from LAist.com. Click here to read the complete article from ABCNews.com.