Transcript:

Three years ago, devastating wildfires on Maui killed more than 100 people and destroyed much of the town of Lahaina.

The flames have long been extinguished, but for many, the crisis is ongoing.

Knightsbridge: “Almost 100% of my caseload is wildfire survivors. … A lot of them have lost family members. … Some of them had to relocate. … Some of them have just lost everything.”

Christopher Knightsbridge is a therapist at a behavioral health clinic in Lahaina.

He co-authored a recent study that found that people affected by the Maui fires have higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

And the mental health impacts are often greatest for people who lack permanent housing or stable employment.

Knightsbridge says for many of his patients, addressing their mental health struggles often takes a back seat to their other urgent recovery needs.

Knightsbridge: “What’s more important, right? At the moment, it’s food and making sure your kids are OK, making sure your kids are going to school. … They haven’t even begun to be able to really process the traumas that happened because they’re too busy trying to just basically survive.”

So he says the people of Lahaina still need support and resources to help them rebuild their lives and get the mental healthcare they need.

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media