Young flood victims hit by depression
29th Sep 2011
THE children of families fighting for flood insurance payouts are showing disturbing signs of depression, a federal inquiry has been told.
Flood victims' health was being put at risk, with some having no choice but to continue living in damaged homes for months before insurance assessors arrived, the inquiry heard this week in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
The inquiry is looking at how the insurance industry handled claims during Queensland's summer of natural disasters.
Lockyer Valley Flood Recovery coordinator Derek Pingel told the hearing antidepressant medication was being prescribed to local teenagers.
Mr Pingel said high school and university students in the region were also showing a slide in academic achievement and motivation because of their parents' financial stress.
"I've noticed children, more teenagers than other children, have been profoundly affected," Mr Pingel said.
"There have been significant rifts between them and their parents."
When asked if any had shown signs of being suicidal, he said: "A few of them had the tendency to go through the act."
Outside the hearing, Mr Pingel told reporters about his direct dealings with flood-affected families across the Lockyer Valley.
"We are seeing quite a high rate of young adults and teenagers with depression going on medication," he said.
Not knowing what was going to happen next was compounding families' stress, he said.
"Adding to the anguish is the extraordinary time taken to get an answer as to whether a) their insurance covers them, or b) if they'll get paid out," he said.
"This is causing family issues that would ordinarily not be there."
AAP
