Wildfire research and mental health: Impacts, reflections, and a call to action

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Study highlights the mental health risks of conducting wildfire research, in which both direct and secondary traumatic experiences can often be compounded by feelings of climate anxiety and ecological grief. We then reflect on our own experiences conducting interdisciplinary and community-engaged research in western North America during and after recent wildfire seasons, including the challenges of recognizing and addressing the psychological impacts of this work. Finally, we synthesize actionable recommendations, and share practical frameworks and tools, for individual researchers, supervisors, and institutions to support researcher mental health and wellbeing in wildfire-related research.