Evaluating the 3-month post-intervention impact of a supportive text message program on mental health outcomes during the 2023 wildfires in Alberta and Nova Scotia, Canada.

This study evaluated the 3-month impact of a daily supportive text message program (Text4Hope) delivered during the 2023 Alberta and Nova Scotia wildfires. Among 150 participants who completed baseline and follow-up surveys, wellbeing improved by 24.6%, while depression and anxiety scores decreased by about 17%. PTSD symptoms declined modestly, and resilience increased slightly. The prevalence of poor mental wellbeing dropped significantly over time. Although not all changes were statistically significant, results suggest scalable text-based messaging can reduce psychological distress after disasters. For preparedness planners, supportive SMS programs offer a low-cost, rapid mental health intervention to integrate into wildfire and disaster response strategies.