Psychosocial and Mental Health Support for Disaster Management in India

This edited book reflects on the development and importance of psychosocial and mental health support in disaster interventions and management in India. Drawing on scientific studies and reports from the Indian context and Asian countries, this collection discusses the importance of psychosocial support for effective recovery, strengthening resiliency, and long-term sustainable development. The chapters examine the role of government’s policies and humanitarian organizations in relation to critical situations due to disasters (earthquakes, floods, landslides, cyclones, tsunamis, conflicts), health emergencies COVID-19, or human error (gas leak), also focussing on the most vulnerable part of the population, such as children and persons with disabilities.

An invaluable read for researchers, students, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of disaster management, disaster mental health and psychosocial support, crisis intervention, and disaster risk reduction, this book collects examples and case studies to promote the development of four strategies of psychosocial support in disaster interventions: micro level interventions; standardized practice; knowledge sharing; government program initiatives.

PART I. Outlining the Trajectory of PSSMHS and stakeholders in Disaster Interventions.- 1. Evolution of Psychosocial Support in Disaster Management in India; Mapping the Trajectory.- 2. Crossroads between Disaster and Disability: Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Services for Empowerment of Persons with Disability.- 3. Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Services (PSSMHS) Policy and Institutional Framework in Disaster Management – India Experience.- 4. Humanitarian organizations in disaster management: Exploring Role, function, and scope.- 5. Psychosocial Support, Mental Health Services in Disaster Management Paradigm: Concepts and Theoretical Perspectives.- 6. Social Psychology of Riots: Clash of Collective Minds.- 7. Addressing Psychosocial Challenges and Building Resilience of Families in Disasters: Insights from a Longitudinal Qualitative Study.- PART II. Learning from PSSMHS interventions in different disasters.- 8. Learnings from Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Psychosocial Impacts and Interventions.- 9. Devastation to Recovery: Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Care in the Wake of the 1993 Marathwada Earthquake.- 10. Cyclone Disasters of Odisha: Learning and Achievements Over Decades of Psycho Social Support Mental Health Services (PSSMHS) Interventions.- 11. Psychosocial Support for the Survivors of the Gujarat Earthquake (2001) with specific focuses on the Vulnerable Survivors of the Disaster.- 12. From Tragedy to Transformation: Psychosocial Responses and Mental Health Strategies in the Wake of the 2004 Indian  Ocean Tsunami.- 13. Navigating and Mapping Crisis: Rapid Psychosocial Needs Assessment Strategies during the Karnataka Flood Response.- 14. Surviving a Deluge: Insights into Psychosocial Impacts and Lessons Learned from Urban Floods.- 15. Psychosocial Support and Mental Health Services Post Major Landslides During the Last 15 Years in India.- 16. Community focussed and Digitally Delivered Psychosocial Support Services during the COVID Pandemic: Experiences from a Tertiary Hospital.- 17. Raising Resilience: Empowering and Preparing children in the times of disasters through Psychosocial support and preparedness approach.- 18. Psychosocial Support for Harmony and Peacebuilding.- 19. Psychosocial support after Fukushima triple disaster, 2011– An example of cascading disaster.

Subhasis Bhadra is Professor of Psychiatric Social Work and Head of the DPSSDM, NIMHANS. He worked in disaster-affected areas in India and Asian countries.

Jayakumar C is an expert in psychosocial care, stress & well-being of marginalized communities, care for first responders, climate change.

Sanjeev Kumar Manikappa is involved in clinical services, academic, research, and training activities in disaster mental health.

Ajay Kumar Goyal worked with MNCs, and his research interests include collective intelligence, psychological assessment, and therapeutic interventions in disaster.

Dinakaran Damodharan pursues research on biological psychiatry, trauma and resilience, mental health concerning climate change, and brain stimulation.

Kasi Sekar is a former Senior Professor of Psychiatric Social Work at NIMHANS. He is a pioneer in mainstreaming psychosocial support in disaster management.