34% of wildfire evacuees in Gyeongbuk are in the high-risk group for PTSD

A survey has found that many evacuees have been suffering from psychological aftereffects following the damage from the largescale wildfire that broke out in North Gyeongsang Province last March. At a related forum held on the 2nd at the Cancer Research Institute of Seoul National University Hospital, Oh Sanghoon, a professor of psychiatry at Eulji University Hospital in Uijeongbu, presented these research findings. About 11 months after the wildfire, in February of this year, the research team surveyed 400 residents affected by the fire in Andong City and Uiseong County on depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other issues. As a result, the highrisk group for PTSD was 34.25%, and the highrisk group for depression was 24%. By age group, the positive rate for PTSD was highest among those under 65, at 42.2%. The researchers said that as climate change increases the frequency and scale of wildfires, the damage can go beyond physical loss and lead to longterm mental health problems, adding that a system for longterm monitoring and recovery support is needed starting immediately after a disaster.