The flood-prone region of Vale do Taquari, Brazil experienced an exceptional El Nino event towards the end of 2023, leading to 52 deaths and impacting the lives of the 400,000 people of the region. Given Vale do Taquari’s already heightened suicide rate, it is crucial to address the mental health effects of this and other climate-related disasters.
Brazil’s approach to those affected mentally by the recent flooding activity was insufficient. The availability of mental health services relied on health professionals’ voluntary services, and no additional training was provided to professionals for working with survivors of climate-related disasters. In their article published in The Lancet, Joana Bücker and L.S. Czepielewski argue that mental health services should be implemented as required training for medical professionals servicing the region.
Increasing the number of mental health care infrastructures in the region such as training facilities could improve the recruitment and training of healthcare professionals from other fields (such as emergency response personnel) to provide mental health services to the population. The establishment of evidence-based protocols by the federal or local governments for psychological support after disasters will also aid in mitigating further mental health crises in the region.
Whether any interventions to address the mental health affects of the flooding in Vale do Taquari are being planned, remains to be reported.
By Sarah Ortega