Climate-Related Disasters Understanding Causes, Consequences, and Interventions to Protect Community Mental Health

Climate-related disasters are a profound and devastating effect of a changing global climate. These events result in an established range of individual psychological and behavioral responses as well as a predictable pattern of community responses that evolve over time. Unlike the medical impact of climate-related disasters, various factors enhance the transmission of mental health effects beyond the geography of the event. Subsequent and co-occurring disasters, such as the global COVID-19 pandemic, amplify distress and significantly complicate disaster response and community recovery. Certain populations are particularly vulnerable to the mental health effects of disasters with various communities disproportionately bearing the impacts. Understanding the effects of disasters, where risk is concentrated, and how it changes throughout the course of disaster response and recovery are important to optimize interventions. Evidence-informed interventions can reduce distress, improve well-being, enhance functioning, and foster sustainment for individuals, organizations, and other communities. Effective preparedness requires understanding these factors, incorporating them into all aspects of disaster management, and ongoing education and training for disaster planners, responders, and the public.