Guidance

Mental health costs of flooding and erosion

Assess the mental health costs of flooding and erosion scenarios.

Documents

Details

This is guidance to support the appraisal of FCERM projects. You should have read the FCERM appraisal guidance manual before using this document.

Public Health England data shows that people experience high rates of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after a flood. There are a number of costs associated with these illnesses.

This guidance explains how to assess these mental health costs for both flooding and coastal erosion. It also explains how to incorporate this information into the economic appraisal of an FCERM project and how to use it if you’re aiming to get FCERM grant-in-aid (GIA) funding.

It can help you investigate the best way to reduce risk in your project location. It may also be useful when developing risk management plans and if you’re making investment decisions.

You should read this guidance alongside the method for monetising the mental health costs of flooding research report.

Published 28 October 2021