Public Health England (PHE) have recently carried out research which shows that people who experience flooding in their homes can suffer from mental health illnesses, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This has an economic impact, including costs to the health service and lost days at work.
The project developed a method for evaluating the impact of flooding on mental health and assessing these economic impacts. Prior to this study, the economic case for flood defence schemes and strategies focused on the physical damage of flooding on properties or businesses. This new approach will allow the benefits of avoiding negative impacts on mental health to be considered in the main economic business case when selecting preferred options and applying for flood risk investment.
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