Depressive and anxiety symptoms after the 2024 flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: findings of the PAMPA cohort

The 2024 flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was the worst natural disaster in the history of the state. We aimed to examine the impact of flooding on individuals' lives and depressive and anxiety symptoms among residents of Rio Grande do Sul. We analyzed data from the Prospective Study on Mental and Physical Health in Adults (PAMPA), conducted with adults from Rio Grande do Sul. Participants completed an online questionnaire between September and November 2024. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, in which scores above eight indicated moderate-to-severe symptoms. The flooding impact was measured via 12 questions on direct and indirect consequences (e.g., energy shortages, displacement, material losses) and categorized into tertiles: low, medium, and high burden. Among the 2,494 participants (mean age: 43.1 ± 15.1 years; 69.6% women), 83.8% reported being affected by the flooding, and 29.7% experienced a high burden. Displaced participants were more likely to report anxiety (PR = 1.24; 95%CI: 1.09, 1.41) and depressive symptoms (PR = 1.32; 95%CI: 1.10, 1.58). High burden was associated with anxiety (PR = 1.72; 95%CI: 1.49, 1.97) and depressive symptoms (PR = 1.52; 95%CI: 1.25, 1.86). Moderate-to-severe anxiety and depressive symptoms were 77% and 129%, respectively, higher than expected. The 2024 flooding had a profound impact on mental health, in which individuals who experienced a greater burden had higher rates of moderate-to-severe symptoms of anxiety and depression.