Climate anxiety: hospital offers free therapy for flood victims in RS With the return of rain to Rio Grande do Sul, residents report fear and anxiety. Hospital Moinhos de Vento, in Porto Alegre, offers free psychological care for victims of the historic flood of 2024 in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The Recomeçar Project is aimed at people aged 16 and over who have climate anxiety and trauma resulting from the disaster. ? Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp ? Although it is not yet classified as a clinical condition, ecoanxiety, or climate anxiety, is already recognized by experts as an intense emotional response to environmental changes. Fear, anguish, insomnia and even symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress are some of the signs that may arise from this climate anxiety. Psychiatrist Jader Piccin, from Hospital Moinhos de Vento, explains that the emotional impact of disasters can persist for up to 10 years. "We see a lot of climate anxiety, people are often already preparing themselves by avoiding or having some type of anxiety regarding the rains that may occur," he said. The initiative focuses on patients with mild to moderate suffering. The treatment includes seven online reception and psychological intervention sessions. Cases identified as serious during screening will be referred to specialized psychiatric and psychological care. More than 100 people have already received assistance through the program. The team's goal is to screen 10,000 residents of Rio Grande do Sul and treat at least a thousand patients by the end of the year. In addition to assistance, the initiative functions as research to map the profile and losses of the affected population. To participate, interested parties must access the website and fill out a questionnaire. The project team contacts selected patients. People who do not meet the criteria for sessions will receive remote mental health guidance. Flood in Porto Alegre in 2024 Nelson Almeida/AFP VIDEOS: Everything about RS