Geopolitical factors and mental health I

Abstract

Natural and man-made disasters carry with them major burden and very often the focus is on immediate survival and management of resulting infectious diseases. The impact of disasters directly and indirectly on the well-being and mental health of those affected often gets ignored. The reasons are often stigma and lack of attention to mental health consequences. In addition, often the focus is on preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as waterborne or airborne diseases. This is further complicated by the fact that often aid agencies in offering aid tend to focus on communicable diseases and not on mental health of populations. This focus may reflect easily to measure outcomes in comparison with mental illnesses as the global burden of disease is likely to increase in the next few decades. There is an urgent need to apply the principles of social justice on social and health care policies, which will lead to elimination of stigma. In this article, we propose that the impact of mental illness as a result of disasters needs to be taken seriously in any planning and delivery of relief. Mental health is likely to be affected both directly and indirectly as a result of disasters and also likely to be influenced by ongoing factors such as poor housing, overcrowding and other social determinants. In addition to deliver equity between physical and mental illnesses, appropriate and adequate resources are needed so that identifiable needs can be met with clear outcomes.

Global collective action in mental health financing: Allocation of development assistance for mental health in 142 countries, 2000–2015

“…Previous research describes the scarcity of humanitarian assistance for mental health (Persaud et al, 2018a) and an index has been proposed to facilitate its allocation based on compassion, assertive action, pragmatism, and evidence (Persaud et al, 2018b). A policy report identifies four main reasons for underinvestment in mental disorders in LMICs: lack of understanding of mental disorders, difficulties in measuring return on investment, stigma, and competing priorities (e.g.…”

Refugees : A Humanitarian Program That Is Beneficial for Long Term Economic Development

“…Therefore, the new community's response will affect their wellbeing. 39 Given the new situation faced both by refugees and the new society of the host countries, integration strategy is considered as the best approach for refugees' acculturation within the community.…”

Evaluation of Anxiety and Experience of patients presented with Maxillofacial Trauma in Nishtar Institute of Dentistry

“…This facial trauma causes physical as well as psychological impact on individuals. According to WHO around 450 million people suffer from mental disorders and about 11% of sufferers are due to all diseases and injuries in the world 2 . Studies have shown that patients with facial trauma are more prone to depression and anxiety disorders within 1 year of trauma due to facial disfigurement 3 .…”