The Impact of “Soft” and “Hard” Flood Adaptation Measures on Affected Population’s Mental Health: A Mixed Method Scoping Review

Background The frequency and severity of floods has increased in different regions of the world due to climate change. It is important to examine how adaptation measures impact the mental health of individuals affected by these disasters. Objective The goal of this scoping review was to document the existing studies on the impact of flood adaptation measures in affected populations to identify the best preventive strategies and limitations that deserve further exploration. Methods This study followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Inclusion criteria focused on studies in English or French available in MEDLINE and Web of Science that examined the impact of adaptation measures on the mental health of flood victims. Literature reviews or non-study records were excluded from the analysis. Results A total of 857 records were obtained from the examined databases. After 2 rounds of screening, 9 studies were included for full-text analysis. Six studies sought to identify the factors that drive resilience in flood victims, whereas 3 studies analyzed the impact of external interventions on their mental health. Conclusions The limited number of studies demonstrates the need for public health policies to develop flood adaptation measures that can be used to support the mental health of flood victims.