The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Climate change is a global challenge which is likely to affect the mankind in substantial ways. Not only climate change is expected to affect physical health, it is also likely to affect mental health. Increased frequency of disasters with climate change can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and depression. Changes in climate may require population to migrate, which can lead to acculturation stress. It can also lead to increased rates of physical illnesses, which secondarily would be associated with psychological distress. Using a qualitative approach, this research explores the mental health status of migrant women in two urban slum areas in Dhaka city. The purpose of this study is to perform a review of existing secondary data and present mental health scenario of climate migrant women among slum dwellers and amplified gaps in knowledge regarding psychological health care system in Bangladesh. It is found that there is a lack of mental health preparedness and response in majority parts in the country specially the city slum, where aid cannot be reached to the sufferers. The paper concludes with a discussion of what can and should be done to tackle the expected mental health issues consequent to climate change and migration.
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is one of the fastest growing megacities in the world. In 2005; approximately 3.4 million out of the city's 12.6 million inhabitants were living in slums
Climate related disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and bush-fires are often associated with stress-related psychiatric disorders. Individuals who have been exposed to life threatening situations are at a considerable risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Individuals who have been through the experience of climate related natural disaster are not only at a higher risk of developing PTSD, but also at a greater risk of developing acute stress reaction and adjustment disorder
Although the number of mental health professionals in Bangladesh is significantly inadequate, Govt. of Bangladesh has positive policy regarding the training of graduate doctors and civil surgeons, health assistance, nurses and religious leaders is a welcoming step towards wider acceptance of the magnitude of psychological problems after disaster and provide support service to reduce mental stress and trauma. The change in the approach of psychological support to reduce mental stress and trauma first came in 1996, when a NGO named as “Social Assistance and Rehabilitation for Physically Vulnerable (SARPV, 1996)” reporting 66% of tornado affected people in Tangail district were psychologically traumatized
The lack of data on the burden of disease morbidity and mental health status in slums hampers the efficient allocation of health care initiatives and the provision of appropriate disease prevention services
Attention has been drawn to the variety of health impact of climate change. Global climate change is likely to be associated with spread of vector borne diseases, injuries and deaths due to extreme weather conditions such as floods, storms, and cyclones, thermal injury due to exposure to heat, risk of spread of water-borne infections due to floods and coastal water warming, and reduction in regional crop yields leading to malnutrition
To manifest the current mental health scenario of climate migrant women among slum dwellers in Dhaka city.
To suggest some recommendations for focusing psychological impacts during and after migration in the context of climate change.
In order to understand the current mental health scenario of climate migrant women among slum dwellers in Dhaka city. Principal data collection method used documentation Research site selections depend on the general information which collected from documentation survey. The researcher conducted the study on secondary data. The systematic review has done according to the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis (PRISMA) standard
A litterateur search was conducted in August 2019 to identify article/ Journal papers provide evidence of disaster mental health practice in Bangladesh. This study used an extensive collection of search methods in the literature review. The search plan was used varied publications with a combination of subject title and free text searching such as mental health in disaster, effect of disasters in psychology, psychological intervention during and after disaster, mental disorder, community mental health services for climate migrant women, disaster psychology and Bangladesh etc. Most of the investigations were found in Google Scholar. Additional literature was gathered through institution research, project papers etc.
This study included that described the concept of mental health management in natural disasters, the existing practices of psychological intervention in Bangladesh, gaps in psychological first aid in different context. This systematic search has been retrieved from articles published between 1996 to 2018 s the term mental health recognized in late 1996 in the focus was unrelated to the purpose.
In the beginning articles were selected based on their titles but later based on their abstracts to eliminate that did not meet up inclusion criteria. In this systematic review, the articles were derived from both qualitative and quantitative studies. Some international articled were also reviews to compare the case in the subject of mental health and after disaster climate migrant women deprivation among Bangladesh and other countries. Researchers have been followed thematic analysis process and also employ data triangulation method in order to have a thick description.
Data on authors, year of publication, method, target group, study design and assessment tools used were extracted by the authors. Results from the selected papers were extract and gathered in summary. Included paper were grouped by subject and fields of determine once the data were completely collected.
Psychological research has shown that disasters with climate change can cause serious mental health consequences for victims. The consequences take the form of Post- traumatic stress disorder and variety of other disorders and symptoms, which, have less investigated. In 1944, Lindemann published an observation of the psychological aftermath of the
Existing services for people with psychological trauma in disasters through semi-structured interview that found 8 services, 7 of them in Dhaka and 3 of them working with children cognitive behavior, therapy and counseling
The Ministry of Health itself admits that the health indicators for the urban poor are worse than for the rural poor, due to the unavailability of urban primary health care and poor living conditions
Khan M.M. H. et al., (2008) conducted a cross sectional study on “Socio-economic factors” explaining differences in public health-related variables among the women in Bangladesh. They found that a significantly higher percentage of women living in slums who came from the countryside, had a poorer status by household characteristics, had less access to mass media, and had less education than women not living in slums
Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), Women and Housing Rights Program (2008) are working on “Women, Slums and Urbanization” across the Americas, Asia, and Africa. COHRE interviewed women and girls living in six global cities, representing some twenty different (and indeed, diverse) slum communities. The stories shared by these women and girls elucidated the very personal struggles which women face in their day-today lives, as well as the broader connections that these struggles have to issues of gender-based violence, gender discrimination, and women’s housing insecurity. In turn – as this report makes clear – for women, these issues are themselves intimately connected to the global trend towards urban growth
Vijay M. S. (2010) conducted a research titled “Does illiteracy influence pregnancy complications among women in the slums of greater Mumbai”. In this study, he examines utilization of health services available to the women in the slums of hilly area in Mumbai and checks whether no utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and having reproductive health problems during pregnancy create complications during child delivery vis-à-vis standard of living index constructed from household amenities, housing quality, drinking water, electricity and toilet facilities. Using cluster sampling of a sample size of 346 reproductive women who have given at least one live birth prior to the survey on the education of the study women, antenatal care indicators, antenatal check-ups and reproductive health problems during pregnancy and complications during child delivery among the slum dwellers of Ramabai Nagar was studied. The findings using logistic regression reveal unimaginably low level of utilization of health services by illiterate women in the study area. Besides these, there is evidence that these respondents did not go for ANC and faced reproductive health problems during pregnancy that created problems during child delivery, particularly to illiterate mothers. Therefore, we can conclude that women’s condition in slum area is severe
Additionally, changing lifestyles, malnutrition, persistent social inequality, economic insecurity, and unstable social life have given rise to new health challenges-non-communicable diseases, substance misuse, and mental health problems
Mental health is deeply influenced by long lasting climate events that can cause significant psychological stress such as anxiety and depression. UNFCCC 4th report on global warming stated that a tropical country like Bangladesh has direct relationship between climate change and presence of major illness- acute psychosis and schizophrenia. Extreme climatic events like heat stroke, which manifest as delirium and other neuro-psychiatric syndromes characterized by altered consciousness to agitation, restlessness, unconsciousness and even death. Major population displacement after an extreme climate event would cause social disruption, unemployment, social conflicts, mental unrest and economic burden, uncertainly. All this factors are associated with increased with increased prevalence of mental disorders like anxiety, depression and stress disorders. All this factors are associated with increased prevalence of mental disorders like anxiety, depression and stress disorders. Besides, increase salinity water in coastal area would hamper food production, which results malnutrition and mental development disorders in the country. The extreme climate change events cause immense psychosocial stress especially among the women as vulnerable group in the society.
A survey among Asian Tsunami affected population by WHO revealed that 30-40% of population suffered from moderate to severe mental disorders. Natural disasters have shown increased domestic violence due to frustration and anger. A study in the state of Orissa in India concluded that mental disorder as depression and PTSD were increased among post flood affected population after one year
Some of the reasons for this are the large number of people who are vulnerable, poor warning system, inadequate emergency response to disasters, poor preparedness and mitigation measures for disasters. Pre-disaster factors like lower economic status, shoddy quality of housing and poor connectivity also exacerbate the damage. Bangladesh has traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquake, cyclone and flood because of its unique climate condition
The psychological relations following disasters are normal responses to an extraordinary stressful situation and are to be expected under such circumstances
Phase | Pre disaster | During Disaster | Early Post Disaster | Recent Post Disaster | Remote Post Disaster |
Periods | Days to hours | Hours to days | Days to weeks/months | Months to years | Years |
Psychological Disturbance | Apprehension | Acute Stress | Adjustment reacts | Abuse | Adoption |
Helpless | Anxiety | Nightmares | Poverty | Personality | |
Restless | Confused | Panic disorder | Anxiety | Dysthymia | |
Death wish | PTSD symptoms | Depression | Substance misuse | ||
Less appetite | Relationship issue | Truancy | Foster families | ||
Depression | Sexuality issue | Complete grief | Anxiety | ||
Grief | Suicide | Depression | |||
Hopeless | Superstitions | School dr opout | |||
Insomnia | Dissociation | ||||
Guilt | Somatic problem | ||||
Heroism | |||||
Panic | |||||
Numbing |
Source: Kar, 2012
Using a geo-epidemiological approach, the study by Gruebner et al., 2012 identified factors that contribute to the mental well-being in the slums of Dhaka. From this study informed about the status of mental well-being in Dhaka's slums. The important factors that determine the mental well-being relate to the socio-economic (job satisfaction, income generation ability, population density) and physical environment (environmental pollution, lower flood risk, better sanitation and quality, sufficiency and durability of the house). Individual level characteristics such as diseases, gender, and knowledge upon environmental health threats are important mental well-being determinants
The country has an old mental health policy named as Lunacy Act in 1912, when the country was still a British colony. The term lunatic means “an idiot or a person with unsound mind”. This policy reflects an outdated perception of mental illness and health. In 2006, Bangladesh adopted a mental health policy, strategy and plan as a part of its effort in promoting surveillance and preventing non-communicable diseases
At present, there is no special team or committee for the management of disaster-related psychological problems in the country. Psychiatric services are not incorporated yet in the existing health sectors disaster relief plans and services. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) officers has been trained in basic mental health issues for the UHC (primary level). Trained field workers and religious leaders also help patients by providing psychological support and proper guidance and referral to seek medical care
As the number of total psychiatrists and the psychiatric works is significantly inadequate to provide psychological support to disaster victims, the mental health sector has undertaken policies with collaboration of world Health Organization (WHO) and govt. to increase the number of trained up graduate doctors, field workers in the primary health sectors. Bangladesh psychiatry recently has undertaken a policy to organize community psychiatry service. For the world country, there are 90 psychiatrists, 15 clinical psychologists, 2 psychiatric social workers and 1800 beds. The National Institute of Mental Health and Research has thus far conducted training for 3000 doctors, 90 GPs, 25 civil surgeons, 5500 health assistants, 72 nurses and 200 religious leaders. It has also started rehabilitation and liaison services and training on mental health awareness program
The BRAC team and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) has continued their support on updating the patient’ profile with complete address and contact details and re-assessing the admitted patients’ psychological conditions. This team is working jointly with the National Institute of traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) and Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP), to update the common patients’ profiles, listing the patients who have lost their limbs and will require rehabilitation support later. Aside from the medical teams, BRAC has dispatched four psychological trauma counseling teams comprising of four to six counselors from HNPP, community employment program, disaster, environment and climate change program (DECC), gender justice and diversity programed BRAC University. The term will continue with the assessment process and start psychological trauma counseling support from 28Th April
First, rate of a wide range of mental health problems increase as the result of emergencies:
Within conflict- affected populations, robust studies have shown that the prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases substantially.
A range of mental health problems –not only PTSD – are concerning: the ongoing needs and vulnerabilities of people with pre-existing severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder; those with pre-existence or emergency-induced mood, anxiety, and alcohol and drug use disorders, and the vast number of people who do not have mental disorders but experience psychological distress.
Secondly, simultaneous with the increased needs and demand for services, existing mental health infrastructure may be weakened because of emergencies. Buildings can be demand, electricity and water supply lines for essential medicines can be disrupted. Health workers may themselves fall victim to the emergency thought injury, death or forced displacement. In some cases, they need to look after their own families or friends before fulfilling their professional duties.
Third, during major emergencies with acute onset, a sudden surge of aid agencies into a country can result in a chaotic situation, in which it can be nearly impossible to keep track to who is providing support and what they are doing. Coordination of aid agencies is resource-intensive, but failure to coordination services creates duplication of efforts, while segments of the population remain underserved. Other risks associated with the rapid influx of mental health and psychosocial assistance in the acute phase of emergencies includes an over- focus on PTSD while other mental health problems are ignored
Some of the following suggestions are given to increase and implement action plans on psychological support for climate migrant women in Dhaka city slum.
This includes the overall planning and organizational response to the immediate psychological need, Proper tanning must be given to personnel and stuff.
Country should conduct Mental Health situation analysis, where local community can be involved by:
General and social demography od community
Identification of mental health needs and psychological problems faced by the people
Evaluation of mental health services and programs
Determination of priorities and target groups for immediate actions
Primary healthcare workers, volunteers, search and rescue personnel, humanitarian workers and community agents are first responders’ following the disaster. As they have direct contact with the population so, they can provide psychological first aid immediately after the disaster.
Specialized care should be reserved for more complex cases of mental disorder. The mental health service should be linked to the primary health care. This includes:
Assessment of Specialized human resources and their distribution, the coverage they provide and the existing support network
Provision of direct specialized clinical care for persons such as psychiatric hospitals or departments, community mental health services, temporary mobile health care services in the affected sites etc.
Priority for highly vulnerable risk group
Care for the members of first response them
Availability of support and teaching tools
Distribution of publication on mental health and psychological support
Training for the health workers and the other agents
Follow up training process in the services
Ensure available and easily understandable educational materials
Group- awareness raising educational activities during emergencies
Implement health promotion and educational activities with the participation of community organization
Advice authority to build an effective social communication strategy
Involve key political players
Inform and motivate service providers about psychological issues
Design and directed messages of psychosocial issues to the target population
Prior preparedness Action
Rapid preliminary Assessment of damage and Mental health needs after disaster
Psychological first Aid by unspecialized personnel
Specialized care
Training on mental health and psychological support
Health education
Enhance social communication
Managing trauma in special group