Evaluating the Prevalence and Correlates of Major Depressive Disorder Among Residents of Fort McMurray, Canada, One Year After a Devastating Flood

• Published in: Disaster medicine and public health preparedness Vol. 17; p. e271
• Main Authors: Oluwasina, Folajinmi, Eboreime, Ejemai, Shalaby, Reham, Nkire, Nnamdi, Agyapong, Belinda, Pazderka, Hannah, Obuobi-Donkor, Gloria, Adu, Medard, Mao, Wanying, Owusu, Ernest, Agyapong, Vincent I. O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Anxiety; Canada; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Depression - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder, Major - etiology; Divorce; Emergency preparedness; Female; Floods; Humans; Male; Medical diagnosis; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Oil sands; Original Research; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prevalence; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Sociodemographics; Canada; Alberta Canada; diagnosis; flooding; major depressive disorder; mental health
• ISSN: 1935-7893; 1938-744X
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2022.231

This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of depression following the April 2020 flooding in Fort McMurray. A cross-sectional study design. Questionnaires were self-administered through an anonymous, online survey. Data collected included sociodemographics, flooding-related variables, clinical information, and likely major depressive disorder (MDD) using PHQ-9 scoring. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and logistic regression at = < 0.05. Of the 186 respondents who completed the survey, 85.5% (159) of the respondents were females, 14.5% (27) were males, 52.7% (98) were above 40 years of age, and 94% (175) were employed. The prevalence of mild to severe depression among the respondents was 53.7% (75). Respondents who reported that they are unemployed are 12 times more likely to have a moderate to severe depression (OR = 12.16; 95% CI: 1.08-136.26). Respondents who had previously received a mental health diagnosis of MDD are five times more likely to have moderate to severe depression (OR = 5.306; 95% CI: 1.84-15.27). This study suggests that flooding could impact the psychosocial and mental health of affected people. There is a need to reassess the existing guidelines on emergency planning for flooding to reduce its impacts on mental health and identify where research can support future evidence-based guidelines.