(PS4-74) Helping the Helpers: Coordinating Disaster Response following the Maui Wildfires

The 2023 Maui Wildfires were amongst the deadliest in United States history, creating wide-ranging impacts for survivors. Maui residents experienced the loss of family members, pets, homes, and belongings. Hawaiʻi Behavioral Health Connection (HiBHC), a program of the Hawai’i Psychological Association and eventual nonprofit organization, was created and evolved based on community needs, volunteer strengths, and availability. While organizations led formal recovery efforts, HiBHC partnered with individual providers and community members for grassroots support to alleviate the stress of first responders, including firefighters, police officers, and medical personnel, and field-based mental health providers. The need for such programming is an imperative aspect of any disaster response effort, as formal mental health programs often overlook such professionals (Sovold et al., 2021; Rodriguez-Arrastiae et al., 2021). Further, the potential for combined direct and indirect exposure to trauma increases this population’s risk of developing PTSD. This proposal presents data from 2023 and 2024 of the “Helping the Helpers” Zoom room effort to provide round-the-clock mental health support for this at-risk population.

In the weeks following the 2023 Maui Wildfires, HiBHC coordinators established and maintained 24/7 drop-in Zoom rooms accessible to first responders supporting the Lahaina disaster recovery efforts. The Zoom rooms were reestablished during the 2024 commemoration week, one year after the Wildfires. These Zoom rooms featured 24-hour mental health support provided by licensed mental health practitioners across the globe. The initial Zoom support effort in 2023 yielded participation from 650 licensed volunteers from 14 countries (41 US states) who logged on for 1909 hours in the 6 weeks following the Wildfires. The follow-up Zoom support effort in 2024 was the work of 149 licensed volunteers from 6 countries (32 states) who logged on for 338 hours during the one-year commemoration. Qualitative data collected regarding experiences and motivations for participation will be presented, including volunteers who stated, “My heart is with the people of Lahaina” and, “I feel like the story has faded from the news, but the people are still in pain.” Results looking at descriptive and quantitative data from mental health professionals across the globe who provided support for Hawai'i's first responders will guide future efforts to anticipate and meet the changing behavioral health needs of underserved first responders in Hawai'i. Implications and future research areas, including creating culturally-minded, flexible, and accessible support spaces for first responders and field-based mental health practitioners, will be discussed.