The Current Status of Psychological Support in Climate-Related Disasters and the Policy Challenges

Abstract

Most empirical studies that concern how climate change relates to mental health focus on exposure to climate-related disasters like floods, typhoons, wildfires, and heatwaves. The impact of exposure to natural disasters is multifaceted. While individuals and communities that experience these disasters show resilience in most cases, some may suffer increased psychological distress and even develop mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, with their mental health status deteriorating. The provision of national support is essential post-disaster for people’s psychological well-being. These support services must be comprehensive and sustained over a sufficient period of time. Post-disaster mental health support services have advanced and improved in the last few years, delivered through disaster psychological support centers (Ministry of Public Administration and Security) and national and local trauma centers (Ministry of Health and Welfare). This article explores ways to provide psychosocial support services in a sustainable manner to those affected by climate disasters, which, in this era of climate change, occur with increasing frequency.