WHO Urges Southeast Asia to Address Mental Health Impact of Climate Change

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Southeast Asian countries to bolster mental health systems to tackle the growing issue of climate change-related mental health problems, emphasizing multi-sectoral approaches and community-based interventions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Southeast Asian countries to strengthen their mental health systems to combat the escalating impacts of climate change on mental health. Saima Wazed, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia, highlighted this at a workshop on 'Strengthening the capacity of countries to address the impact of climate change on mental health.'

Wazed pointed out significant gaps between the mental health needs and service availability, stressing the necessity for a cohesive effort to mitigate climate change's mental health impacts. She called for integrating climate considerations into mental health policies and programs, alongside increased funding and community-based approaches.

She further emphasized the importance of the Male Declaration and the Paro Declaration, underlining the need for human, technical, and financial resources to establish effective, people-centered health systems and ensure universal access to mental health care.