Mental health outcomes of first responders after disastrous wildfires

Hello, my name is Isabelle Bonita, but I go by Izzy! I am a rising sophomore studying public health and emergency health sciences at George Washington University. Following undergrad, I hope to pursue medical school while continuing research in environmental health. I am extremely passionate about mental health and understanding how our occupations influence our exposures to physical, chemical, and psychological hazards. 

This summer, alongside my mentor Dr. Jianghong Liu, who is a renowned researcher in cognitive neuroscience and environmental exposures, I worked on a systematic review focusing on the mental health outcomes of first responders after disastrous wildfires. 

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, I feel that it is imperative that we understand the effects of these events on vulnerable populations like first responders. First responders are trained to be selfless and risk their lives for the safety of others, and I believe there needs to be a stronger emphasis on first responder health, especially mental health. I hope that this project leads to more research on the ways that shareholders can support and take accountability for the mental health of first responders. 

I am so grateful for all of the opportunities and mentorship STEER provided this past summer. I will bring my intense curiosity and passion for environmental health that I’ve gained through STEER, wherever I go in academia and in my future career.

What is your summer research project?

This summer, alongside Dr. Jianghong Liu, who is an expert in cognitive neuroscience and environmental exposures, I worked on a systematic review on the mental health outcomes of first responders after disastrous wildfires. After learning about the concerning lack of knowledge surrounding wildfire firefighter mental health outcomes, I designed this project to investigate much of the research that has been conducted on mental health outcomes of firefighters after extreme wildfires. The studies that I included assessed populations from multiple countries that are the most prone to intense wildfires. During the process, the librarians at the University of Pennsylvania Biotech Commons offered incredible guidance and resources, and I am deeply appreciative of their support. 

What are the implications of your research?

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, I feel that it is imperative that we understand the effects of these events on vulnerable populations like first responders.  In the pre-hospital care field, we have a popular saying; “when you are on scene, it is not your emergency that you are responding to”. First responders are trained to be selfless and risk their lives for the safety of others, and I believe there needs to be a stronger emphasis on first responder health, especially mental health. Understanding the factors that influence mental health outcomes of populations such as emergency first responders may help us to better understand their unique challenges and barriers to mental health care. I hope that this project leads to more research on the ways that shareholders can support and take accountability for the mental health of first responders. 

What new skills have you gained through your research?

Prior to this experience, I had never written a systematic review. Through this opportunity with STEER, I have gained experience conducting advanced searches, quality assessments, and writing systematic reviews. This project has also deepened my understanding of the various forms of research that exist. I am so grateful to all of the exposure to research and the environmental health field that I have gained through this experience, and I hope to continue research similar to my project in the future.