- The team of psychologists at Ribera Polusa Hospital warns of the importance of addressing emotional pain, especially in vulnerable populations following the more than 350.000 hectares burned this summer in Spain.
- They recommend taking time to express your pain and talk about what happened, combining moments of mourning with restorative activities, listening without judging, and seeking professional help.
The summer of 2025 will be remembered as one of the most devastating wildfires in recent decades in Spain. Between August 10 and 22 alone, fires scorched more than 350.000 hectares, bringing the annual toll to over 400.000. The fires in Uña de Quintana (Zamora) and Chandrexa de Queixa (Ourense) are already among the largest of the century. Beyond the visible damage—scorched mountains, destroyed homes, evacuations, and disrupted transportation—there remains the silent mourning of those who have lost their surroundings, their life plans, or even loved ones.
“Grief is inevitable and adaptive. Pretending nothing happened or trying to continue life as if it never happened can make the pain chronic,” explain the hospital's psychologists. Ribera Polusa (Lugo), which these days are caring for those directly and indirectly affected by the flames.
Grief after a catastrophe: between the collective and the individual
Grief, the experts remind us, "is the psychological process that arises in the face of a significant loss. After a natural disaster like a forest fire, this process becomes more complicated: emotional, material, and social losses accumulate, and the emotional impact is as intense as it is unexpected."
As they explain, in these cases, grief is experienced on two levels: collective, shared with the affected community, which helps one feel supported in their pain; and individual, with reactions as diverse as they are unpredictable, depending on previous experiences, the support network, and each person's psychological resources.
“The initial shock, anger, helplessness, sadness, or anxiety are normal and healthy reactions at first,” the psychologists at Ribera Polusa point out. “The problem arises when these emotions don't subside over time, affecting daily life and leading to disorders such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress.”
How to help heal emotional pain
Psychologists emphasize the importance of allowing oneself to feel and having social support. “Listening without judgment, being there for others, and verbalizing unconditional support is key,” they point out. They also recommend taking time to express grief and talk about what happened; combining moments of mourning with restorative activities, such as rebuilding or connecting with nature; avoiding harmful phrases like “it could have been worse” or “I know how you feel”; and seeking professional help when the pain becomes unbearable or paralyzing.
In addition, factors such as community support, trust in authorities, and solidarity facilitate resilience and emotional recovery.
The elderly and children, the vulnerable population: the pain that is hardest to see
The team of psychologists at Ribera Polusa warns that some groups suffer a much greater impact on their mental health in the event of disasters like these fires. Children, the elderly, patients with chronic illnesses or pre-existing mental disorders, migrants, people with low economic resources, and even emergency responders are among the most vulnerable groups. “Many people have to face great losses in a short period of time: emotional, material, and environmental losses, and embark on a path filled with unpleasant and very intense emotions: disbelief, helplessness, despair, fear, uncertainty, insecurity, and disorientation, among others,” they explain. “Their identity and the ecosystem of which they were a part are shattered,” they add.
"Children lose their sense of security and can develop persistent fears; older adults, with limited mobility or support networks, feel overwhelmed; and emergency workers, who experience fires on the front lines, accumulate emotional exhaustion that isn't always visible," the specialists explain.
From the hospital of the health group Ribera In Lugo, they emphasize that, in the face of disasters of this magnitude, considering the most vulnerable people should be the central focus of any social and health response.
