After a disaster like the Camp Fire, many people struggle with feelings of distress, depression and anxiety. These feelings are normal after this type of traumatic event and help is available.
Here are some resources and advice for helping you cope with what you're feeling.
If you’re directly affected in Butte County and experiencing a mental health crisis or if you were previously being served by Butte County Behavioral Health and need to reconnect to services, call the department’s health access line at 800-334-6622 or 530-891-2810.
This list of trauma focused therapistsin Butte County is from The Therapy Directory, an online website and resource from Pyschology Today that lets you find counselors who practice in your area.
Case Management services are located at:
Butte County Employment Center
2445 Carmichael Dr., Chico, CA 95928.
Hours of Operation: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Days of Operation: Monday – Friday
Camp Fire survivors can also call 2-1-1 in Butte County to learn about resources.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Immediate Disaster Case Management (IDCM) Program supports states, tribes, and territories, local and non-profit organization by providing disaster case management (DCM) services to individuals and families impacted by a disaster.
The goals of IDCM are to: Assess individual and family disaster-caused unmet needs, develop a recovery plan, and link disaster survivors to resources and programs that will promote a more rapid and equitable recovery.
Build and strengthen local disaster case management infrastructure by providing disaster case management training.
For further information, contact: Casey Hatcher, Butte County Public Information Officer (530) 552-3336
Case Managers can assist with the following:
Assessment of client disaster-related unmet needs
Guidance on access to the FEMA appeals processv
Assistance with determining eligibility for Small Business Association (SBA) low-interest residential and/or small business loans and support
Developing a personal disaster recovery plan
Connecting with necessary resources such as:
Behavioral Health Services Furniture and Appliances
Child and Youth Services Health Insurance
Clothing Housing Durable Medical Equipment Legal Referral Services
Employment Senior Services
Financial Assistance Transportation
Using LiveHealth Online, affected individuals can gain online access to doctors, therapists and psychologists through live video from a smartphone or computer. This service is being provided for free, regardless of insurance coverage through December 31, 2018. If you do not have access to a cell phone or computer, this service is also being made available at the Disaster Recovery Center in Chico.
There are walk-in outpatient behavioral health services available 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week including holidays at 560 Cohasset Rd. Ste. 180 in Chico.
Enloe Behavioral Health provides inpatient psychiatric mental health to help with crisis. Call 530-332-5250, 24/7, for more information.
The Shalom Free Clinic is offering mental health care every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at First Christian Church, 295 E. Washington Ave. Chico, CA 95928.
Chico State students can access counseling support by calling the Counseling and Wellness Center 24/7 at 530-898-6345. Faculty and staff can also utilize 24/7 counseling through the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-367-7474 or mylifematters.com. The Wildcats Rise Facebook group is a place where campus community members can offer and find support for immediate and long-term needs, such as housing, transportation, textbooks, and other resources. For more information about Chico State Camp Fire recovery resources, visit csuchico.edu/campfire.
The Northern California Trauma Recovery Networkis providing Camp Fire survivors with five free therapy sessions of a type of therapy that helps buffer the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, the treatment takes place with a trained EMDR therapist who uses tapping or rapid eye movements to help the brain process traumatic memories. To ask questions or to sign up for a session, visit this web page.
For those with insurance, check to see what resources are available. Health insurance providers are starting to post phone numbers to call for support. Here are a few:
California Health and Wellness members who have lost their homes or have been evacuated due to the current wildfire should contact CHW for referrals to mental health counselors, local resources or telephonic consultations to help them cope with stress, grief, loss or other trauma resulting from the fire. For the duration of the fire and its immediate aftermath, affected CHW members should call 1-877-658-0305. For more information, visit this web page.
Health Net members who have lost their homes or have been evacuated due to the current wildfire should contact MHN, Health Net’s behavioral health subsidiary, for referrals to mental health counselors, local resources or telephonic consultations to help them cope with stress, grief, loss or other trauma resulting from the fire. For the duration of the fire and its immediate aftermath, affected Health Net members should contact MHN 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-227-1060. For more information, visit this web page.
Crisis hotlines and websites for people in and out of Butte County
The Therapy Directoryis a website and resource from Pyschology Today that lets you find therapists who practice in your area. You search by zipcode and can find counselors who focus in specific fields.
The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1.800.985.5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
The Trevor Lifeline connects lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) young persons to a suicide prevention and counseling phone line with access to trained counselors 24/7.
The Friendship Line provides crisis intervention, support and resources for older adults, ages 60 and over, and their family and friends. Call 800.971.0016 to access help.
The North Valley Talk Line provided by Northern Valley Catholic Social Services (NVCSS) is a non-crisis warm line offering peer to peer support, compassionate listening, and county-wide resource referrals. Callers that are in crisis or that are at risk of harm to themselves or others are referred to crisis services. Call 855.582.5554 to access help from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., seven days a week.
Anyone thinking about suicide can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for help.
Veterans who are struggling can call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (press 1).
Further Reading
Helping Children After a Natural Disaster: Information for Families and Educators
American Counseling Association Trauma and Disaster Resources