WHO urges integration of climate change impact into mental health services in South-East Asia

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged member countries in the South-East Asia Region to strengthen their mental health systems in response to the increasing impact of climate change on mental health and psychosocial well-being.

“Climate change exacerbates many social, environmental, and economic risk factors for mental health and psychosocial well-being. Among WHO regions, South-East Asia is most vulnerable to this,” said Saima Wazed, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia, in her opening remarks at a regional workshop for ‘Strengthening capacity of countries to address the impact of climate change on mental health’, held from  August 12 to 14, 2024.

“There is a large gap in both knowledge of, and response to, climate change’s impact on mental health,” Wazed stated, calling for collaboration between climate and mental health officials from member states to accelerate action in mitigating these impacts.

The Regional Director outlined five key approaches recommended by WHO to strengthen mental health services in the region. These include integrating climate change considerations into mental health policies, incorporating mental health support into climate change programs, building on global commitments, adopting multi-sectoral and community-based approaches, and addressing funding gaps in both mental health services and climate change response.

The WHO South-East Asia Region’s Action Plan for Mental Health offers various options to enhance user-oriented community mental health services and advocates for policy updates in line with international human rights standards. The region has previously adopted the Malé Declaration in 2017, focusing on building health system resilience to climate change, and endorsed the Paro Declaration in 2022, which commits to ensuring universal access to people-centred mental health care and services.

Wazed, who took office as Regional Director in February 2024, continues to emphasise a holistic approach to health and well-being, aiming to empower communities to address local challenges through effective and people-centred health systems.