07/22/2026
Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation Community Wellness Information
Taking Care of Your Mental & Physical Health After the Wildfire
Returning home after a wildfire evacuation is a big step. While many people are relieved to be home, it is completely normal to experience stress, anxiety, sadness, frustration, or exhaustion after everything our community has been through.
Recovery doesn’t just happen on the land—it happens in our minds and hearts too.
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Common Reactions After an Evacuation
You may experience:
- Feeling overwhelmed or emotional
- Trouble sleeping or having nightmares
- Feeling anxious or constantly on edge
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability or anger
- Feeling tired, even after resting
- Sadness or grief
- Feeling worried every time you smell smoke or hear about fire
Children may also react differently by:
- Becoming more clingy
- Having trouble sleeping
- Becoming more emotional
- Acting out or becoming unusually quiet
These are all common reactions after a stressful event.
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Smoke Can Affect Your Health
Even though we’re home, wildfire smoke continues to affect our community.
Smoke can cause:
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Burning or watery eyes
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Fatigue
Those most at risk include:
- Elders
- Babies and young children
- Pregnant women
- People with asthma, COPD, or heart disease
Protect yourself by:
- Staying indoors when smoke is heavy.
- Keeping windows and doors closed.
- Using a HEPA air purifier if you have one.
- Wearing an N95 mask if you need to be outside.
- Avoiding strenuous outdoor activity.
- Drinking plenty of water.
If you experience severe breathing difficulties or chest pain, seek medical attention immediately.
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Take Care of Yourself
Recovery takes time.
Remember to:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Eat healthy meals and stay hydrated.
- Spend time with family and friends.
- Talk about how you’re feeling.
- Limit exposure to stressful news if you need a break.
- Be patient with yourself and others.
Everyone heals at their own pace.
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Mental Health Supports Are Available
You do not have to go through this alone.
GNWT Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) Mental Health Support
Location:
Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation Council Chambers
2nd Floor – LKFN Building
Available daily until 8:00 p.m.
LA
📞 (587) 832-1924 (tel:(587)%20832-1924)
Lee
📞 (780) 271-5997 (tel:(780)%20271-5997)
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Canadian Red Cross Mental Health Support
Through GNWT Health, the Canadian Red Cross has also brought additional mental health support workers into Fort Simpson.
Canadian Red Cross Counsellor are available at the Fort Simpson Recreation Centre.
A location is also being finalized for a third Canadian Red Cross Mental Health Support Worker, and that information will be shared once it is confirmed.
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Remember
Asking for help is a sign of strength—not weakness.
For many people, this wildfire evacuation may have brought back memories and emotions from the 2021 flood evacuation. Going through more than one emergency in a relatively short period of time can have a compounding effect on our mental and emotional well-being. Even if you felt you coped well after the flood, you may find this experience has affected you differently—and that’s okay.
There is a great deal of support available in our community right now, and I encourage everyone to make use of it. Whether you simply need someone to talk to, are feeling overwhelmed, or are struggling after returning home, please don’t wait to reach out.
Let’s continue checking in on our family, friends, neighbours, and especially our Elders. Sometimes the most important question we can ask is, “How are you really doing?”
Healing takes time, and none of us has to do it alone. Just as we stood together through the flood, the wildfire, and the evacuation, we will continue to support one another as our community heals.
Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation
Mahsi cho.
