Report Says Majority Lac-Mégantic Residents Suffered Depression

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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A public health survey has pointed out that at least half of Lac-Mégantic, Que., residents have suffered from depression due to the crash of a runaway train that exploded in the heart of their town. According to the health officials, the survey focused on Quebec’s Eastern Townships sampled almost 800 people in the municipality and found 64 per cent of them being directly affected by the loss of a loved one in the accident that killed 47 people.

The results of the survey released on Wednesday showed that twenty-three per cent of people suffered material loss, from damage to homes and businesses to relocation and job losses. Whereas, at least half of the residents of the regional municipality of du Granit also had had at least one episode of depression in the past 12 months and another 23 per cent suffered from anxiety. The survey revealed that the occurrence of mental health problems was about twice as high among people directly touched by the tragedy versus those who escaped any effects.

According to the report authored by the head of the regional public health authority, Dr. Mélissa Généreux, “the findings are clear: whether you look at human or material loss … the population of the area has suffered and is still suffering.” The report highlighted that higher rates of drinking and drug consumption was observed among those touched by loss. Thirty-one per cent of the affected population had used psychosocial services in the past year, compared with 7 per cent among the general population of the area.

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