A limited podcast series exploring how the 2024 Jasper Wildfire impacts the mental health of older survivors and what roles leisure plays in their recovery journeys.
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In episode three, we explore a wide range of ways in which leisure can support survivors’ recoveries, including being a catalyst for post-traumatic growth, a context for meaning-making, a vehicle to search for new purpose in life, and a foundation to re-establish “new normal.” We also share our own experiences working on this project and talking with the residents of Jasper.
In episode two, we discuss the feeling many survivors have of being “stuck” in the post-disaster rebuilding process, which causes a great deal of stress, frustration, and uncertainty. We explore different mechanisms through which certain types of leisure activities help take our mind off post-disaster stressors, ranging from consuming stories that take us to a different world, all the way to a skill-based activity that puts us into the “zone” or flow state.
In episode one, we share stories which show just how social the impacts of a natural disaster can be. We discuss how a wildfire affects the social fabric among survivors and their sense of community, and in response, we also identify key roles leisure plays in maintaining and developing relationships among survivors.
