Challenges and Prospects in Promoting Resistance, Resilience and Recovery in Southeast Asia

• Main Authors: Waelde, Lynn, Hechanova, Ma. Regina
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2020
• Subjects: Mental health and psychosocial support; Disaster preparation; Southeast Asia; Disaster education and training; Culturally adapted interventions; Disaster responders; Counseling Psychology; Emergency and Disaster Management; Psychology
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/psychology-faculty-pubs/277; https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S2040-726220200000021010/full/html
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Advances in disaster prevention and mitigation in Southeast Asia (SEA) have increasingly included plans for mental health and psychosocial support. However, substantial challenges remain, particularly in the areas of (a) disaster communication and preparedness, (b) institutionalized disaster education, (c) culturally adapted and evidence-based tools and interventions, (d) developing capacities and caring for disaster responders, and (e) enabling collective resilience. In addition, the impacts of poverty, lack of access to education, and other forms of marginalization result in less resources to prepare for hazardous event and increased vulnerability to environmental hazards for SEA countries. These issues highlight the need for SEA governments to address deeply rooted human development issues that put communities at risk and heighten vulnerabilities of SEA populations.