TY - JOUR
T1 - Help-seeking following a flooding event
T2 - a cross-sectional analysis of adults affected by flooding in England in winter 2013/14
AU - National Study of Flooding and Health Study Group
AU - Findlater, L.
AU - Robin, C.
AU - Hopgood, K.
AU - Waite, T.
AU - Rubin, G.
AU - Beck, C. R.
AU - Oliver, I.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/10/1
Y1 - 2023/10/1
N2 - Background: Flooding can cause long-term, significant impacts on mental health in affected populations. We explored help-seeking behaviour of households affected by flooding. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on National Study of Flooding and Health data on households flooded in England in winter 2013/ 14. Participants (Year 1: n ¼ 2006; Year 2: n ¼ 988; Year 3: n ¼ 819) were asked if they sought help from health services and other sources. Logistic regression was conducted to calculate odds ratios (ORs) of help-seeking in flooded and disrupted participants compared to unaffected, adjusted for a priori confounders. Results: The odds of seeking help from any source 1 year after flooding were greater for flooded participants [adjusted OR (aOR): 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–1.45] and those disrupted by flooding (aOR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.37–2.68) compared to unaffected participants. This continued in the second year (flooded: aOR 6.24, 95% CI: 3.18–13.34; disrupted: aOR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.14–4.68), and help-seeking remained greater in flooded than unaffected participants in the third year. Flooded and disrupted participants were particularly likely to seek help from informal sources. Help-seeking was more prevalent amongst participants with mental health outcomes, but a notable proportion of individuals with any mental health outcome did not seek help (Year 1: 15.0%; Year 2: 33.3%; Year 3: 40.3%). Conclusions: Flooding is associated with increased demand for formal and informal support, persisting for at least 3 years, and an unmet need for help amongst affected individuals. Our findings should be considered in flood response planning to reduce the long-term adverse health impacts of flooding.
AB - Background: Flooding can cause long-term, significant impacts on mental health in affected populations. We explored help-seeking behaviour of households affected by flooding. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on National Study of Flooding and Health data on households flooded in England in winter 2013/ 14. Participants (Year 1: n ¼ 2006; Year 2: n ¼ 988; Year 3: n ¼ 819) were asked if they sought help from health services and other sources. Logistic regression was conducted to calculate odds ratios (ORs) of help-seeking in flooded and disrupted participants compared to unaffected, adjusted for a priori confounders. Results: The odds of seeking help from any source 1 year after flooding were greater for flooded participants [adjusted OR (aOR): 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–1.45] and those disrupted by flooding (aOR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.37–2.68) compared to unaffected participants. This continued in the second year (flooded: aOR 6.24, 95% CI: 3.18–13.34; disrupted: aOR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.14–4.68), and help-seeking remained greater in flooded than unaffected participants in the third year. Flooded and disrupted participants were particularly likely to seek help from informal sources. Help-seeking was more prevalent amongst participants with mental health outcomes, but a notable proportion of individuals with any mental health outcome did not seek help (Year 1: 15.0%; Year 2: 33.3%; Year 3: 40.3%). Conclusions: Flooding is associated with increased demand for formal and informal support, persisting for at least 3 years, and an unmet need for help amongst affected individuals. Our findings should be considered in flood response planning to reduce the long-term adverse health impacts of flooding.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175450821&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/eurpub/ckad082
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckad082
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85175450821
SN - 1101-1262
VL - 33
SP - 834
EP - 840
JO - European Journal of Public Health
JF - European Journal of Public Health
IS - 5
ER -