Climate change and mental health: a call to action to include mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) in the Pakistan flood crisis

• Published in: BJPsych international Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 56 - 58
• Main Authors: Riaz, Mehr Muhammad Adeel, Nayyer, Bismah, Lal, Arush, Nawaz, Faisal A., Zil-e-Ali, Ahsan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Anxiety; Climate change; Coalitions; Crises; Disaster relief; Disasters; Displaced persons; flood crisis; Floods; Gender; Global Echoes; Health care; Humanitarianism; Medical personnel; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental health and psychosocial support; mental health policy; Mental health services; NGOs; Nongovernmental organizations; Pakistan; Policy making; Professionals; Psychosocial factors; Psychosocial intervention; Psychosocial support; Rural areas; Rural communities; Support services; trauma; Pakistan; trauma; flood crisis; mental health policy; Pakistan; Mental health and psychosocial support
• ISSN: 2056-4740; 2058-6264
• DOI: 10.1192/bji.2023.13

The recent flood crisis in Pakistan has had significant impacts on the physical, mental and socioeconomic fabric of almost 33 million people. Floods in Pakistan are leading to a range of negative impacts on health and major disruptions to healthcare services. The lack of mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) is a significant concern in rural areas of Pakistan in providing support to communities affected by floods. It is important for the government and mental health policymakers to work with academic coalitions and non-governmental organisations to replicate low-resource MHPSS models that will develop and advocate for effective, gender-sensitive mental healthcare throughout the country.