People described feeling intense fear during floods, followed by worry and hypervigilance afterwards, compounded by anger and despair when recovery was slow. The study’s authors say their research shows flood management should be treated as a public health priority and that mental health supports are needed for people after severe floods. “This will lead to a corresponding rise in mental health difficulties, most notably post-traumatic stress, chronic anxiety, and depression. They also reviewed 100 studies from other countries where severe flooding has occurred more frequently and found experiences were similar in Ireland. Some of the worst-hit areas are years away from getting flood defences and Government departments are wrangling over who should take responsibility for a new public flood warning system.

Source: The Irish Times March 12, 2026 15:02 UTC