Cultural Implications for the Provision of Disaster Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Southeast Asia

• Main Authors: Hechanova, Ma. Regina, Waelde, Lynn, Torres, Alicia N
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2020
• Subjects: Mental health and psychosocial support; Southeast Asia; Disaster mental health; Culturally adapted interventions; Trauma; Culture; Community Psychology; Emergency and Disaster Management; Psychology
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/psychology-faculty-pubs/278; https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S2040-726220200000021001/full/html
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Southeast Asia (SEA) is a region highly susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, though the region has been underrepresented in disaster mental health research. This chapter addresses risk factors for SEA, including its disaster-prone location, the psychological toll of frequent disasters, and stigma and shame and lack of psychoeducation about psychological help-seeking. Collectivism, strong family ties, and religious faith are among SEA’s resilience factors. Culture should be heavily accounted for in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), considering the wide array of cultural differences in spirituality, affect and expression, power distance, and gender and masculinity in SEA. Because culture affects treatment satisfaction, treatment engagement, and treatment outcomes, future research should explore how aspects of SEA culture impact accessibility and engagement in MHPSS.