Extreme Weather Events: Addressing the Mental Health Challenges

Abstract

There is an increasing body of evidence in India and across the world regarding the mental health impacts of the extreme weather events, along with other direct and indirect impacts. There is a strong evidence to suggest that these extreme weather events are occurring due to climate change resulting from global warming. The Climate Change debate does not talk much about dealing with the mental health impacts, preoccupied as it is in dealing with physical and economic impacts of climate change. Also, extreme weather events have been occurring in India for a while now. The Indian government has woken up to the fact that these weather events, bringing unprecedented devastation, are indeed “extreme”, only after the recent Kashmir floods. India has been an active participant in the climate change debate and discussions. The purpose of the present chapter is to take an overview of the mental health impacts of the major extreme weather events and emphasize the importance of preparedness in meeting these mental health impacts. The chapter looks into some of the best practices adopted by nations and cities, to deal with the mental health challenges thrown in the wake of such extreme weather events and suggests measures, for governments and communities, to be better prepared to deal with mental health issues arising from future extreme weather events.