The stress of both surviving and recovering from disaster is known to increase the risk of various mental health challenges, with depression and PTSD being among the most common effects, according to an article on MDlinx.com. A recent study published in JAMA Network Open seeks to help quantify those effects, by focusing on the Flint water crisis, in which a change in the source of the city’s water supply led to residents being exposed to high levels of lead, iron, and bacteria. Looking at the health outcomes for 1,970 adults who had lived through the water crisis, the study found that roughly 20% of participants met the criteria for a depression diagnosis, and 25% for PTSD, with more than 10% meeting the criteria for both. More significantly, only about a third of participants were offered mental health services to help address their symptoms, pointing to a lack of supporting resources.
As other studies have shown the importance of early intervention after disasters on improved mental health outcomes, it seems likely survivors of future disasters will be best helped by additional early access to appropriate medical professionals to help reduce the risks of developing long term mental health issues.
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