Psychosocial impact of the summer 2007 floods in England

Abstract

BackgroundThe summer of 2007 was the wettest in the UK since records began in 1914 and resulted in severe flooding in several regions. We carried out a health impact assessment using population-based surveys to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for the psychosocial consequences of this flooding in the United Kingdom.MethodsSurveys were conducted in two regions using postal, online, telephone questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Exposure variables included the presence of flood water in the home, evacuation and disruption to essential services (incident management variables), perceived impact of the floods on finances, house values and perceived health concerns. Validated tools were used to assess psychosocial outcome (mental health symptoms): psychological distress (GHQ-12), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9) and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD checklist-shortform). Multivariable logistic regression was used to describe the association between water level in the home, psychological exposure variables and incident management variables, and each mental health symptom, adjusted for age, sex, presence of an existing medical condition, employment status, area and data collection method.ResultsThe prevalence of all mental health symptoms was two to five-fold higher among individuals affected by flood water in the home. People who perceived negative impact on finances were more likely to report psychological distress (OR 2.5, 1.8-3.4), probable anxiety (OR 1.8, 1.3-2.7) probable depression (OR 2.0, 1.3-2.9) and probable PTSD (OR 3.2, 2.0-5.2). Disruption to essential services increased adverse psychological outcomes by two to three-fold. Evacuation was associated with some increase in psychological distress but not significantly for the other three measures.ConclusionThe psychosocial and mental health impact of flooding is a growing public health concern and improved strategies for minimising disruption to essential services and financial worries need to be built in to emergency preparedness and response systems. Public Health Agencies should address the underlying predictors of adverse psychosocial and mental health when providing information and advice to people who are or are likely to be affected by flooding.

Public health surveillance response following the southern Alberta floods, 2013

“…This is consistent with studies in the UK and Australia that found associations between flooding and psychological distress, anxiety and sleep quality. 12,13 However, it differs from an Australian study that showed a decrease in prescriptions of anti-anxiety medications immediately after a cyclone but an increase over a six-month period. 16 A possible explanation is that this Australian study looked at overall rates of prescriptions, whereas the current study looked at new prescriptions among individuals who had not had a previous prescription in the preceding year, and this specificity allowed for the detection of a signal.…”

“…11 Mental health impacts can include anxiety 12 and difficulty sleeping, 13 as well as the precipitation or exacerbation of mental health disorders requiring medical attention (e.g., depression, posttraumatic stress disorder). 11 For only a small subset of those with psychological distress will mental disorders go on to develop over the long term.…”

Sharing the Pain: Perceptions of Fairness Affect Private and Public Response to Hazards

“…For this study we designate flooded households as those that experienced water inside their place of residence, below ground and in ground-floor-level rooms (in line with Paranjothy et al 2011) but recognizing the diversity of pathways to negative well-being and trauma associated with such events . We designated nonflooded households as residents who were not flooded.…”

Health and climate change: policy responses to protect public health

“…In the longer term, flooding affects perceptions of security and safety, and can cause depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. 93,96 Figure 7 shows estimates of extreme precipitation events (events exceeding 10 year return period) under the RCP8.5 (high -emission) scenario. We estimate that there would be around 2 billion additional extreme rainfall exposure events annually (individuals exposed once or multiple times during any year), partly due to population growth in exposed areas and partly due to the changing incidence of extreme events associated with climate change.…”