Shocks to the Mind: Mental Health and Behavioral Responses to Natural Disasters

• In Event: US Crisis Response

Abstract

Natural disasters have far-reaching effects on individuals’ physical and mental well-being, yet their impact on mental health and health behaviors remains underexplored. This study investigates the effects of natural disasters—including floods, wildfires, and hurricanes—on mental distress and health-related behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and marijuana use. Utilizing a matched difference-in-differences (DiD) approach, we compare counties affected by disasters with unaffected counties to estimate the causal effects of disaster exposure on these outcomes.

Our analysis is based on data from the 2011–2023 SMART Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a comprehensive dataset providing county-level estimates of mental health and substance use behaviors. We merge this dataset with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declarations to identify counties that experienced major disasters, allowing us to assess the relationship between disaster exposure and changes in mental health and substance use patterns. By leveraging a quasi-experimental design, we control for time-invariant county characteristics and pre-existing trends, enabling us to isolate the effects of disaster exposure.

We hypothesize that exposure to natural disasters leads to increased mental distress, which in turn contributes to higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and marijuana use as coping mechanisms. The psychological trauma associated with disaster-related losses, displacement, financial strain, and disruptions to daily life may push individuals toward substance use as a form of self-medication. Additionally, we expect these effects to be heterogeneous across demographic and socioeconomic groups. In particular, we anticipate that older adults will experience greater mental health deterioration due to heightened vulnerability and fewer coping resources. Furthermore, we examine disparities by income level, race/ethnicity, gender, and educational attainment, as socially and economically disadvantaged groups may bear a disproportionate mental health burden following disasters and exhibit different behavioral responses.

Our findings hold significant policy implications for disaster recovery efforts and mental health interventions. Understanding the behavioral and psychological consequences of natural disasters can help policymakers develop more effective support systems for at-risk populations. Targeted mental health services, substance use prevention programs, and community-based support initiatives could mitigate the long-term mental health and behavioral effects of disasters. Additionally, recognizing differences in behavioral responses across demographic groups can aid in designing tailored interventions to address specific vulnerabilities.

Author

• Hyeonwoo Do, University at Albany
  Presenting Author