When we think about flooding and coastal erosion, it is often the physical impacts that come to mind: flooded homes, damaged businesses, disrupted infrastructure and changing coastlines.
However, the effects can go much further. Flooding can affect people’s mental health and wellbeing, finances and sense of security, with impacts that can continue long after the flood water has gone. Coastal erosion can create uncertainty about the future of places people know and value.
Two recent Environment Agency research projects are helping us better understand these wider impacts. One looks at how people experience and recover from flooding. The other explores what we know about the relationship between coastal erosion and mental health.
Together, they show why understanding people’s experiences is an important part of managing flood and coastal change risk.
Supporting communities after flooding
Recovery from flooding does not end when the immediate emergency is over.
Our research project, Understanding and supporting the flood recovery process, found that recovery can continue for months or even years. People may be dealing with repairs, insurance claims and grants, replacing possessions, rebuilding routines and adapting to the possibility of future flooding.
The research reviewed more than 100 sources of evidence and included interviews with national stakeholders and case studies involving residents, businesses and local organisations in Bewdley, Looe, Sparkhill and Stockdalewath.
Recovery is different for everyone. People’s experiences can be shaped by their income, previous experience of flooding, community networks and access to support. Low-income households, tenants, rural communities and some minority communities face additional barriers to recovery and accessing support.
Local relationships can make a significant difference. Neighbours, voluntary organisations and community groups provide practical help, emotional support and trusted information.
The research identified examples of effective recovery, including strong multi-agency coordination, rapid activation of recovery arrangements, affordable insurance through Flood Re and greater uptake of property flood resilience measures through Build Back Better.
But there remain challenges. People can struggle to navigate insurance and grant processes, receive inconsistent information or find that support ends before their recovery is complete. For some, the mental health impacts of flooding continue long after physical repairs have been completed.
The research highlights the importance of authorities staying visible, communicating clearly and working with partners and communities throughout recovery. It shows that recovery is about helping people, communities and local economies both recover and become more resilient to future flooding.
Understanding mental health and coastal erosion
Our research project, Valuing the Mental Health Costs of Coastal Erosion, explored what is known about how living with coastal erosion risk may affect mental health and wellbeing. The study combined a review of existing research, analysis of national datasets from England and Wales, and interviews with practitioners.
One of the key themes was uncertainty. People living in areas at risk of coastal erosion may face years of uncertainty about what will happen to their homes and communities, sometimes before any physical loss of coastline occurs.
The literature review identified examples of stress, anxiety and other negative impacts on wellbeing associated with coastal erosion. Practitioners also highlighted concerns about housing, finances, displacement and the potential loss of people’s connection to where they live.
Although the research identified evidence of mental health and wellbeing concerns associated with coastal erosion, the available national datasets did not allow us to fully quantify these impacts. Further work is needed to understand how people experience the uncertainty and change associated with a changing coastline.
Through the Coastal Adaptation Pilots, we are testing practical approaches to help communities prepare for and adapt to long-term coastal change. These pilots will help us build our understanding of the real-world mental health impacts on communities living with coastal erosion risk.
Putting people at the heart of resilience
The evidence demonstrates why people’s experiences need to remain at the heart of flood and coastal change risk management.
As the challenges associated with flooding and coastal change continue to grow, this evidence will help shape future research, policy and practice. Most importantly, it will help ensure that people’s needs, experiences and wellbeing remain central to how we plan, adapt and build resilience for the future.
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