Flooding victims seven times more likely to suffer mental health issues afterwards

Professor Neil Adger's research indicated that people struggle with a loss of sense of place and a lack of agency over what can be done to prevent it and stressed the need to involve local communities in finding the best solution in protecting their area from flooding.  File picture: Dan Linehan

People whose houses have been flooded are up to seven times more likely to experience anxiety, post-traumatic stress and even depression, which can go on for years.

That is according to a leading climate social scientist, who said planning flood defences in cities such as Cork must involve early public consultation to increase the community’s wellbeing.