In previous floods of 1997 and 2010, many people lost their homes or businesses and were left with nothing to continue their normal family life. Such a situation brings a powerful trauma to people living in flood areas. It is important to understand that southwestern Poland is inhabited by people whose families suffered severe wartime trauma in 1939-1945 which also contributes to the problem.
“There will be a need for a lot of psychological assistance; these are procedural issues so please simplify the procedures,” said Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak addressing all institution that can “respond to the demands of the local government crisis centres” in response to the results of heavy flooding in the southwestern Poland.
The minister said that procedures must be easier for those who need psychological help.
During the 1997 Flood of the Millenium, some 20 people committed suicide due to the effects of the cataclysm. The overall statistics of such acts resulting from the floods were the object of university studies in psychology and economy.
According to a study by Adam Czabański, an expert on the impact of natural disasters on psychological problems and phenomena, the worst situation for the mental health of the population was recorded in areas that faced flooding for the first time.
A study made in 2023 shows that “around 19 per cent of Poles – almost one in five – have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)” caused by the atrocities of the 2 World War.
“This is facilitated by unprocessed, transgenerational trauma dating back to World War II, explains Dr. Marcin Rzeszutek from the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Warsaw,” as explained in the summary of the study.
The British Poles coordinates a fundraising action for the Polish community in the United Kingdom to help those who suffered most during the recent floods. If you want to support our initiative, please use the link: https://www.siepomaga.pl/polonia-na-wyspach-pomaga-powodzianom
Source: PAP, Nauka w Polsce
Tomasz Modrzejewski
