New research from UCRH has been published, documenting how young people’s experiences on the 2017 floods in the Northern Rivers impacted on their mental health.
The research set out to explore young people’s experiences of the catastrophic flooding and was targeted at those aged 16–25 years who were Northern Rivers residents at the time of the 2017 flood.
The research showed that young people found their flood experience to be novel and challenging. They expressed worry, distress, anxiety, and worsened pre-existing mental health issues as a result of the flood. They reported a number of primary stressors (inadequate preparedness, warning and support during the flood) and secondary stressors (loss/damage of property and possessions, financial strain and disruptions to daily life) which potentially contributed to poor mental health. Some reported positive outcomes from their flood experience, notably increased community connectedness and personal resilience. However, they also expressed concern for the future, particularly potential reoccurrence of extreme floods as well as climate change. Many conveyed a desire for better community involvement to improve preparedness for future floods and a clear motivation to take action on climate change.
The flood was a challenging experience for young people which was commonly described as negatively affecting their mental health. Understanding what their view as significant events or issues arising from their personal flood experience may help target support mechanisms and services to maintain their mental. More focus on community-based initiatives to improve disaster preparedness can support mental health in.
