Study finds Lahaina survivors’ mental health worsening

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A new study finds that the mental health of Lahaina survivors is worsening, especially for children.

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University of Hawaii researchers with the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) said Maui is recovering, but insecurity, housing instability, health concerns and weakening social support continue to place many families at risk.

MauiWES published the report, “The Road to Recovery: Strengthening Health, Stability, and Resiliency Three Years After the Maui Wildfires,” outlining its findings on Monday, July 27.

Although those in the study continue to find employment and get out of temporary housing, officials worry that their mental health is not following the same trajectory.

“In regard to mental health, the honesty is, it’s not great,” Knightsbridge said. He is a therapist and psychology researcher. “I’ve had kids as young as six years old tell me this, that they don’t want to live anymore.”

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The University of Hawaii group has taken steps beyond aggressive outreach to help survivors, conducting more than 4,000 appointments and screenings for more than 2,500 participants, providing residents with mental health assessments, blood pressure checks, lung function testing, blood tests, social needs screening, health information and referrals.

“There’s so much resiliency within these people there. But that resiliency doesn’t mean that they’re not hurting. It just means that they’re surviving despite carrying around that hurt,” Knightsbridge said.

The group is also launching a new program to connect patients to the proper care they need in rural areas like Lahaina.

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