Climate change is increasingly impacting mental health and psychosocial well-being, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, calling on member countries in Southeast Asia Region to strengthen mental health systems and services to address this growing challenge. "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 the capacity of countries to address the impact of climate change on mental health', held here from 12 - 14 August.
The Regional Director said that in many countries significant gaps exist between mental health needs and the availability and accessibility of mental health systems and services. The increase in mental health and psychosocial problems from climate change is putting an extra burden on the health system. "There is a large gap in both knowledge of and response to, climate change's impact on mental health.
.. There is an evident need to bring together climate and mental health officials from member states to ensure accelerated action to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts and prevent further widening of this gap," Ms.
Wazed said. "Even without climate change, the mental health situation is challenging. In our region, an estimated 260 million people live with a mental health condition and more t.