This World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10, brings attention to a crucial yet often overlooked issue the mental toll of disasters. Whether it’s floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, or heatwaves, natural calamities don’t just destroy homes and livelihoods; they deeply affect emotional well-being, triggering anxiety, stress, depression, and long-term trauma. This year’s theme highlights the importance of mental health during humanitarian emergencies, calling for stronger preparedness and resilience-building before disaster strikes.
Communities worldwide are now adopting creative and compassionate strategies to strengthen mental resilience. From meditative workshops in Puerto Rico to national frameworks in Australia, these initiatives prove that prioritising mental health in disaster response can make recovery more humane, effective, and lasting.
In Puerto Rico, the Post-Hurricane Healing programme is helping communities rebuild inner strength after devastating events like Hurricanes Irma and María. Through practical mind-body techniques such as meditation, journaling, and movement, residents including teachers, parents, and veterans are learning to manage emotional stress. The programme’s ‘train-the-trainer’ model ensures these resilience skills spread widely, empowering more people to cope with future crises, including earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australia, too, is leading with a strong policy-driven approach. The National Mental Health Commission’s Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework brings together agencies and experts to protect mental health before, during, and after emergencies. It supports projects such as the Black Dog Institute’s services for emergency workers, offering peer networks, trauma counselling, and psychological resources. By integrating lived experiences into policymaking, Australia is turning recovery into a shared national mission for emotional well-being.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and the Wellcome Policy Lab are using humour and creativity to turn climate anxiety into positive engagement. Through nearly 40 workshops across different regions, participants explored climate-related stress using theatre, acrobatics, and “cartoonathons.” These playful, interactive sessions helped reduce fear, build trust, and inspire new ideas for climate resilience proving that laughter and creativity can be powerful tools for mental health.
In the United Kingdom, even the insurance sector is taking mental health seriously. Zurich UK has introduced post-disaster counselling for flood-affected clients, acknowledging that true recovery goes beyond repairing walls it’s about healing minds. By offering emotional support alongside financial assistance, the company is bridging a long-standing gap between material and psychological recovery.
As disasters become more frequent and intense due to climate change, these examples show that building resilient minds is as important as rebuilding cities. Investing in mental health is no longer an optional part of disaster management — it’s an essential foundation for recovery, community strength, and long-term resilience.