A method for monetising the mental health costs of flooding

Viavattene, Christophe ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4358-5411 and Priest, Sally J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2304-1502 (2020) A method for monetising the mental health costs of flooding. Project Report. Environment Agency, Bristol, UK. e-ISBN 9781849114493. [Monograph]

Abstract

Executive Summary Over the last 30 years, our knowledge of how to estimate the cost and benefits of flood risk management (flood damages avoided) has improved progressively and evolved to include a wider range of benefits. There is growing evidence to suggest that flooding has a negative impact on the mental health of those affected. We need to further develop our approaches and data to include the costs to mental health caused by flooding.

This project reports on 3 main objectives: to review the literature that assesses the impacts of flooding on people’s mental health, to carry out a review of the available data concerning the mental health impacts of flooding (in particular the Public Health England (PHE) longitudinal study into the mental health impacts of flooding), and to develop a methodology to assess the benefits of avoiding the costs due to the mental health impacts of flooding for FCRM economic appraisal. [...]

The proposed benefit appraisal methodology for including mental health impact within FCRM economic appraisal is similar to that used to calculate residential property losses. The methodology differentiates the likely number of adult residents for each property in the benefit area; estimates the flood depth inside each property and associated health losses for each return period of the considered options; and uses the Environment Agency FCRM supporting spreadsheet to calculate expected annual average damages.

Actions (login required)

View Item