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. 2016 Dec;93(6):899-908.
doi: 10.1007/s11524-016-0089-y.

Angry, Scared, and Unsure: Mental Health Consequences of Contaminated Water in Flint, Michigan

Courtney A Cuthbertson  1 , Cathy Newkirk  2 , Joan Ilardo  2 , Scott Loveridge  2 , Mark Skidmore  2
Affiliations

Angry, Scared, and Unsure: Mental Health Consequences of Contaminated Water in Flint, Michigan

Courtney A Cuthbertson et al. J Urban Health. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Natural and manmade crises impact community-level behavioral health, including mental health and substance use. This article shares findings from a larger project about community behavioral health, relevant to the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan, using data from a larger study, involving monthly surveys of a panel of key informants from Genesee County. The data come from open-response questions and are analyzed as qualitative data using grounded theory techniques. Although respondents were not asked about the water issues in Flint, participants commented that the water situation was increasing stress, anxiety, and depression among the city's population. Participants thought these mental health issues would affect the entire community but would be worse among low-income, African American populations in the city. Mental health consequences were related not only to the water contamination but to distrust of public officials who are expected and have the authority to resolve the issues. The mental health effects of this public health crisis are significant and have received inadequate attention in the literature. Public health response to situations similar to the water issues in Flint should include sustained attention mental health.

Keywords: Behavioral health; Flint; Infrastructure management; Mental health; Substance use; Water.

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Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Participants’ perceptions of changes in stress in Genesee County.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
Percentage of Genesee County participants’ comments about water.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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