In this article, authors Bell and Woodhead look at the terminology surrounding and impact of catastrophic events on mental health on a global basis. They outline the role that governments can take to address these issues and support populations that are the most vulnerable to these events.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
TimalsinaRSongwathanaP. Factors enhancing resilience among older adults experiencing disaster: a systematic review. Australas Emerg Care2020;23:11–12.
2.
MorgansteinJC. Preparing for the next pandemic to protect public mental health: what have we learned from COVID-19. Psychiatr Clin North Am2022;45(1):191–210.
3.
VercammenAWrayBCriderYS, et al. Psychological impacts of climate change on US youth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A2025;122(16):e2311400122.
4.
McKinzieAEClay-WarnerJ. The gendered effect of disasters on mental health: a systematic review. Int J Mass Emerg Disasters2021;39(2):227–62.
5.
Lass-HennemannJSoppMRRufN, et al. Generation climate crisis, COVID-19, and Russia-Ukraine-war: global crises and mental health in adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry2024;33(7):2203–16.
6.
PalinkasLAO’DonnellMLLauW, et al. Strategies for delivering mental health services in response to global climate change: a narrative review. Int J Environ Res Public Health2020;17(22):8562.
NanduriAVasquezMVeluriSC, et al. Scoping review of PTSD treatments for natural disaster survivors. Health Psychol Res2023;11:89642.
9.
YehudaRLehrnerA. Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms. World Psychiatry2018;17(3):243–57.
10.
ShomuyiwaDOLucero-PrisnoDE3rd. Climate change trauma and collective dissociation: unraveling the impact on mental health and advocating for collective action. Glob Ment Health2025;12:e5.
11.
ParkSKimSKimGU, et al. Effects of social support on mental health outcomes in disasters: a cross-sectional study. Nurs Health Sci2021;23(2):456–65.
12.
BuiBKHAnglewiczPVanLandinghamMJ. The impact of early social support on subsequent health recovery after a major disaster: a longitudinal analysis. SSM Popul Health2021;14:100779.
