Study Finding Probable PTSD in 52% of Eaton Fire-Affected Participants Heads to Commission

Preliminary findings that 52% of participants in a study of school communities affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires screened positive for probable post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms are scheduled to be presented to Pasadena’s Human Services Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The research offers an early assessment of emotional needs among students, families and educators dealing with prolonged displacement and disruption. The presentation is informational. The commission could recommend responses to the findings, but it has no independent authority to establish or fund city programs; the City Council retains final authority over municipal policy and spending.

Larissa Dooley, director of research and evaluation at the Climate Mental Health Network, is scheduled to deliver the presentation. The study materials identify 46 parents, 29 educators and 10 students ages 14 to 17 among participants in the study to date. Of the participants, 75% were affected by the Eaton Fire, 19% by the Palisades Fire and 5% by both, according to the presentation.

Data collection began in June and is continuing. Participants take part in one-time, 90-minute online focus groups and receive $50. The presentation expressly labels the findings preliminary, and the 52% figure describes a screening result among participants, not a clinical diagnosis or an estimate for the entire Pasadena population.

The study identifies overlapping hardships involving destroyed or damaged homes, evacuations, prolonged displacement, school relocation, disrupted classes and financial losses. Some participants experienced losses affecting both their homes and schools, creating multiple sources of stress at once.

Researchers reported immediate effects including shock, grief, depression, anger, fear and confusion about returning safely to homes and schools. Among those who lost homes or remained displaced, the materials describe continued disruptions to sleep and school performance, along with anxiety and depression.

Parents who remained displaced often reported ongoing emotional difficulties. Some said they had not had the time or resources to address the psychological effects of the fires and wanted additional support. Educators described feeling overlooked when assistance focused on students. Some also reported losing teaching materials and student mementos, while administrators described inadequate preparation for responding to the crisis.

The preliminary findings also describe differing experiences among students. Many showed resilience, but those attending schools where few classmates had been directly affected sometimes felt isolated. Some participants considered mandatory wellness events or being singled out for help unproductive, while others found recreational community gatherings helpful.

The study recommends opportunities for peer connection, flexible school and workplace policies after disasters, multiple forms of mental health assistance, stronger school emergency planning and support that continues well beyond the immediate aftermath. It also recommends allowing affected residents to participate in recovery efforts.

The research is intended to inform resources for present and future emergencies. The presentation identifies intervention design and prototyping, followed by distribution and expansion, as later phases of the project. The agenda lists no vote on adopting the study’s recommendations.

The Human Services Commission is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 North Fair Oaks Avenue, in Pasadena. For more information call (626) 744-7311 or visit https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/agendas/.