Emergency response: Stronger coordination of mental health and psychosocial support needed in Asia



BANGKOK, 9 December 2015 (NNT) – Natural disasters touch the lives of over 163 million people in Asia each year, severely affecting individuals, families, communities and the society. Emergencies erode support networks and amplify pre-existing problems such as injustice and inequality.

Disasters together with uncertainty about the future often cause psychosocial and mental health problems to affected populations, especially in low-income countries with limited access to support services.

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) this week is hosting the third regional conference on Bridging the Gaps in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies in Asia, bringing together officials and experts from across the Asian region and beyond.

Organized in Bangkok, Thailand, the conference addresses the lack of regional coordination related to mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies and aims to build a platform for regional inter-agency collaboration.

“As climate change increases the frequency and severity of natural disasters, it is critical to ensure the availability of mental health and psychological support for the affected populations,” said Mr. Shane Wright, Executive Director for Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. “We need to collaborate across different sectors and country borders to help people recover from disasters,” he added.

The conference on 8–9 December includes representatives of government institutions, non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, civil society, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, development partners and academia from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam as well as Australia and Norway.


-- NNT 2015-12-09

"the conference addresses the lack of regional coordination related to mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies"

How about the rest of the time, too? Mental health facilities, counseling, clinics..... are there any?

"the conference addresses the lack of regional coordination related to mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies"

How about the rest of the time, too? Mental health facilities, counseling, clinics..... are there any?

From my vantage point, few if any in my neck of the woods. Plenty of 7-11s, tailor shops, massage parlors, bars, real estate companies, etc. In Pattaya/Jomtien, mental health facilities are as scarce as fire stations and police foot patrols patrols after dark.

A Google check netted the big, for profit hospitals in town, but not much else.