Flooding can increase chance of mental health issues by 50%

National Flood Week began yesterday and the Environment Agency has released data about flooding and health indicating storm and flood damage increase the chance of people affected experiencing mental health issues by 50 per cent.

And after another year where parts of the country have again endured serious flooding, the EA is urging people to be better prepared for flooding’s potentially devastating impacts, promoting its Prepare, Act, Survive guidance – a simple set of instructions to help keep people and their possessions as safe as possible in a flood.

Flooding on Boxing Day 2015 devastated parts of West Yorkshire, ruining homes and businesses along the River Aire. Since then work has been ongoing to try to improve flood defences.

Washing machines and other debris remain in River Aire at Baildon Bridge after Boxing Day floods of 2015

Since the flooding which hit Calderdale on Boxing Day 2015, a mental health pilot scheme has been completed in the upper Calder Valley, with monitoring reports made to Calderdale Flood Recovery and Resilience Programme Board.

Through the past year the board has also heard several reports from EA officers and volunteer flood wardens on the ground all urging people to be more proactive in preparing a flood plan for their homes.

With support from the Community Foundation for Calderdale and the Environment Agency, Healthy Minds, a charity based in Halifax, has been working over the past few years to help people recover from the emotional aftermath of flooding in and around Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, two towns in the upper Calder Valley which have been hit by a number of serious flooding incidents since 2000.

The EA’s research shows people who experience damage caused by extreme weather such as storms or flooding can be 50 percent more likely to face stress and depression.

A quarter of people who have been flooded still live with issues such as stress and depression at least two years after the event, it says.

It can have a negative impact on mental health for several reasons – from the financial repercussions of fixing extensive damage to the loss of sentimental items and the stress it places on victims’ relationships, says the report, often resulting in people having to move out of their homes, displacing them from their community for many months.

But at least some of this impact can be mitigated by some simple but useful planning, says the EA.

The EA’s Flood Risk Manager for Calderdale, Adrian Gill, says with climate change already causing more frequent, intense flooding and sea level rise, it is crucial everyone knows what to do if the worse happens.

“People living in parts of Calderdale are at particular risk due to the geographical nature of the valley.

“We are working hard with our partners to improve protection for the communities by developing flood defences and using natural flood management techniques but there are also some simple things you can do to help keep you and your family safe such as moving possessions upstairs and preparing a grab bag with medicines and important documents.

“Knowing what to do in a flood event can save you thousands of pounds in damages and disruption,” he said.

The Environment Agency is calling on those at risk to familiarise themselves with its Prepare, Act, Survive guidance, a simple set of instructions to help keep people and their possessions safe in a flood.

The guidance includes simple but effective advice such as preparing a bag with medication and important documents and moving valuable and sentimental items upstairs or to higher ground.

Guidance is available by visiting the Environment Agency’s website, https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency, and on the Eye On Calderdale website eyeoncalderdale.com – the latter contains a lot of advice and links and is a “go to” place for help and information including when flooding incidents happen.