A new study led by UHERO’s Ruben Juarez has been published in JAMA Psychiatry. The article finds mental health consequences of wildfire exposure, housing displacement, and income disruption following the 2023 Maui wildfires impacting residents inside and outside of the burn zone.

This cross-sectional study shows wildfire exposure and its socioeconomic consequences are associated with graded increases in psychological distress extending beyond the burn zone. These findings highlight the importance of integrating mental health care, housing stability, and economic recovery as central pillars of disaster response and climate resilience strategies.