What Are the Psychosocial Impacts of Flooding?
Flooding is the most common climate-related disaster in Canada. It can have lasting impacts on communities, including to people’s mental health and psychosocial well-being. In collaboration with the National Collaborating Centre of Environmental Health (NCCEH) we explored the impacts of flooding on Canadian communities. We found:
- Flooding negatively affects psychosocial and mental health in the short- and long-term.
- Flooding worsens psychosocial and mental health inequities.
- Preparedness, resources, and community cohesion can mitigate psychosocial and mental health impacts of flooding.
What Are the Priorities for Action in Canada?
As part of the first phase of the project, we engaged an advisory committee with representatives from across Canada. We heard that priorities for an equitable psychosocial and mental health response to flooding are:
- Preparedness and continuity between events
- Community and contextual adaptation
- Learning from others
