Immigrants affected by the fires have anxiety; experts say mental help is necessary

Rosa Castro arrives at the Pasadena Community Job Center every day at 6:30 a.m., hoping to get hired for the day. 

The 58-year-old woman from El Salvador used to have a set of homes to clean in Altadena. However, after the Eaton fire broke out on January 7, Rosa lost her job because the houses she used to clean were burned to ashes or severely damaged. 

One of the houses she cleans still stands, but her bosses are unable to return, so Rosa cannot work.

She said she is very grateful for the assistance with food, water and essentials, but in her case, she gets anxious about larger expenses. While her apartment wasn’t burned, the lack of a job has left her without an income. 

“I must pay for my room, bills, food and many other things. I’m very affected by this situation,” she said.

Rosa said this situation had affected her since the night of January 7. She was evacuated with very little notice and without a nearby place to go. Unaware of shelters, she took the bus at 9:30 pm to the Metro station and then went to downtown L.A. to stay at a friend’s house. 

However, once she took the Metro Rail train and thought everything was ok, all passengers were informed they had to get off at Pasadena’s Fillmore station because there was no electricity. A shuttle ended up taking them to Union Station. 

“It was chaos. There were people everywhere running. It was a big smoke, and it affected our throats. It looked like a movie,” she said.

While she has been able to go back to her apartment, she still worries about the uncertain future. She goes to assistance centers, enters her name and patiently waits for someone who may need her services. However, she hasn’t been lucky enough and while she gets some donations from the center, she also hopes to get back on her feet soon. 

“It is very sad to see so much destruction in a big country. I don’t know how big the fire was to burn so many homes,” she said. “But we were also affected enormously.”  

Helping get the right resources

Sarah de la Cerda, mental health clinical lead at MiSalud Health, an online service that provides same-day access to experienced physical and mental health professionals, said experiences like the wildfires should be addressed with a professional. By doing so at the right moment, people can decrease the likelihood of developing Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression or anxiety. 

MiSalud Health focuses on farmworkers, construction and other related field roles to overcome traumatic experiences, including grieving and loss. After the fires, they just rolled out a psychological first aid program. These psychological first-aid sessions focus on managing stress after a disaster, offering a safe space to process their feelings while building resilience and coping skills. 

De la Cerda said that after traumatic experiences, people might show more difficulty sleeping and eating and it could also impact their relationships. If not addressed properly, it can lead to substance abuse or have a direct impact on families in the long term. 

“So we really want to create as much of a safety net as possible for the community who already is challenged with so many other things right now,” she said.

She said it is common to see the Latino community hesitant to get this service, thinking of what others may say or may think they are crazy.

“Our coaches can give them skills and say, ‘Here are some things that you can try, here are some strategies you can try and skills that are tailored to you,’” she said.

MiSalud Health offers up to three free mental health sessions for Spanish speakers impacted by the wildfires. New registrants can access this mental health program for free here. https://lnkd.in/ggx63YfM

For more information on resources for victims of the Eaton Fire, visit: https://recovery.lacounty.gov/altadena/