A study will assess the impact of the DANA storm on mental health

ValenciaThe Valencian Ministry of Health, the Spanish Ministry of Health, and the Carlos III Health Institute have launched a study to assess the impact of the recent storm on the mental health of the population in the affected area. The project, which will run for the next three years, will attempt to detect the emergence of problems such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and difficulties in carrying out daily activities. The study aims to understand how the disaster has affected the emotional well-being of the population in order to use the results to guide the planning of control measures and support services needed to respond to weather events of this kind, "improving the capacity of health and social authorities." The work will also reveal the frequency of likely depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, as well as identify personal, sociodemographic, social support, or disaster-related factors that may influence the mental health of the victims. The study population includes people over five years of age residing in one of the 37 municipalities and four districts of Valencia affected by the disaster, totaling 608,772 citizens. The Valencian Institute of Statistics has already conducted a stratified random sample by census tract, socioeconomic level, degree of impact, age, and sex. This has resulted in a sample of at least 8,153 adults and 2,718 people between the ages of six and seventeen. Those selected will receive an invitation to participate by mail. Those who accept will be interviewed, either in person or by telephone, and these interviews will be repeated periodically to assess their progress.