Montreal’s spring floods created mental health problems for 67 per cent of those affected by rising water levels, while 35 per cent saw their physical well being decline, a study by the city’s public health department and published Tuesday suggests.
The mental stress endured by flood victims included bouts of anxiety, sleep disorders and a deterioration of their ability to concentrate. And those problems were even more acute among those forced to evacuate their homes.
The study, overseen by public health department director Richard Massé, found that flooding victims were five times more likely than other Montrealers to consider their mental health in simply adequate or poor shape.
Massé suspects financial worries contributed to that stress, since 75 per cent of respondents questioned by the study were not covered by flood insurance.
Meanwhile, 35 per cent of homeowners complained of physical health problems due to the floods, including coughing, respiratory problems and skin irritations.
Massé concludes these problems can be attributed to mould that developed in homes that had been flooded.
The public health department intends to conduct a second survey over the next few months to follow up on the health of flooding victims.