By The Canadian Press

Fort McMurray Wildfire Evacuees Dealing with Psychological Health Issues

Aug 17, 2016 | 6:21 AM

FORT MCMURRAY:  A preliminary look at data from a study on Fort McMurray residents shows many aren’t sleeping well.

Laval University psychology professor Genevieve Belleville is heading a mental-health study of people from the northern Alberta city who were forced to flee a voracious wildfire in May.

Two of her research assistants have just conducted clinical interviews with about 50 residents and another 300 people completed an online questionnaire.

Belleville is struck most by how many Fort McMurray residents are having nightmares or sleep difficulties.

She says an analysis will begin soon on whether some are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Most P-T-S-D studies have focused on soldiers, so Belleville says the Fort McMurray fire is a great research opportunity.

The fire forced more than 80,000 people to leave their homes and it destroyed 2,400 homes and buildings.