PATH, 2023
Implementing partners: PATH, WHO, We love Rakhine, Thiri May
Published In: COP28 Prospectus of Climate-Health Solutions, 2023
PATH, 2023
Implementing partners: PATH, WHO, We love Rakhine, Thiri May
Published In: COP28 Prospectus of Climate-Health Solutions, 2023
The frequency of emergencies due to severe climate events is increasing in Asia and Africa. These climate events cut off local communities from emergency healthcare services. Armed conflict is also common in climate-vulnerable communities and further complicates access to care.
The lack of awareness and focus of health systems on community mental health, especially during these climate events, is also a major risk for local populations. Populations affected by climate emergencies frequently experience enormous suffering, a sense of insecurity, and severe distress. For example, after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, anxiety and mood disorders prevalence increased by 49.1%. Studies have demonstrated associations between rising temperatures and increases in interpersonal violence, group violence, and suicide rates. Vulnerable groups face heightened mental health risks due to poverty, inadequate housing, and loss due to the increasing frequency of such events.
Providing climate-aware mental health support after climate emergencies is crucial for reducing emergency and long term mental distress. Cyclone Mocha hit Myanmar on 14 May 2023 leaving 3.4 million people either homeless or in severe distress. Following this event 10,000 people were at risk of depression and 50,000 of anxiety.
Together with the World Health Organization (WHO), PATH implemented an integrated approach for a climate and health response following Cyclone Mocha. The teams provided technical and emergency response support to the Myanmar National Government on climate-responsive psycho-social first aid and mental health support for affected populations. To increase reach, PATH undertook capacity building for local Community-Building Organizations (CBOs) to provide mental health support interventions and strengthen referral mechanisms for mental healthcare in emergency settings.
The project unfolded in a few steps. Capacity building efforts were established for community volunteers and general physicians as a first step, followed by the roll out of mental health and psychosocial interventions. Subsequently, coordination and referral mechanisms were established among mental health service providers to ensure sustainability, and supported supervision visits were implemented.
Stakeholders involved in the project include the WHO for guidance on program design and local NGOs ‘We Love Rakhine’ (WLR) and ‘Thiri May’ (TRM) to ensure access to mental health services for the affected communities in their respective townships.
The project so far has received approximately $150,000 in funding from WHO for a period of six months. Of this amount, 35% is being utilized for technical assistance, human resources, and operational costs, and the remaining 65% is for on-ground implementation in the community.
Following the completion of PATH’s emergency mental health response to Cyclone Mocha, long term resilience building interventions are currently being deployed. PATH is expected to complete all interventions by December 2023.
Project monitoring data shows that 14,000 people participated in educational and community led mental health activities for climate resilience projected to reach 25,000 upon project completion. Nearly 1,000 community members received psychological first aid and basic counselling; this is projected to reach 5,000 people in total. Some 250 people received non-specialized psychosocial support to reduce morbidity and mortality due to mental health mortality risks in cyclone-affected communities; this is projected to reach 7,000 people in total. Local political and conflict context along with access constraints in the cyclone affected areas complicated the project’s implementation for emergency and long term efforts.
PATH followed a dual methodology of integrating climate-resilient and psychosocial support with both the public health system and with community-based organizations. PATH’s approach on emergency mental health support for Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar showcases the potential of engaging and building the capacity of community based organizations for addressing psychosocial injury during climate events. This approach is scalable for vulnerable communities across geographies, even in countries with low resource health systems.