World Mental Health Day (WMHD), observed on October 10, 2025, carries the theme “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.”
This theme could not be more relevant to our current global situation. As natural disasters, like our annual floods, and other emergencies increase, they bring not just physical destruction but also profound and often hidden psychological distress.
Emergencies often leave behind a trail of social and mental health challenges. In Malaysia, for instance, the recent floods in Sabah displaced more than 3,000 people.
Imagine losing your home, being separated from family, and having your entire life structure disrupted. In these situations, survivors commonly experience anxiety, hopelessness, sadness, anger, and sleep problems.
While some may recover with time, others develop lasting mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Our disaster response teams and NGOs deserve all the praise for providing food, shelter, and medical care. They are lifesavers. However, the psychological needs are too often overlooked.
Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with existing mental health conditions are particularly at risk. Crucially, we must also support our first responders. These heroes may face burnout and secondary trauma after tirelessly serving communities in crisis. Their mental well-being requires urgent recognition and support too.
This theme forces us to ask critical questions about our preparedness: During a crisis, do most Malaysians know where to seek help for their mental health? Can people even recognise the signs of psychological distress in themselves or others? And most importantly, what can we do to safeguard mental health once the immediate crisis has passed?
The psychological scars of a crisis can endure for years, long after the physical damage is repaired. If we fail to prioritise mental health, we risk allowing these invisible wounds to shape survivors’ lives indefinitely.
To truly address this year’s theme, Malaysia must move beyond reacting to crises and implement the national framework for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in all disaster management. MHPSS simply refers to the support that protects people’s emotional well-being and prevents or treats mental health issues.
A stronger national framework could include teaching basic emotional first aid by training community leaders and volunteers in Psychological First Aid (PFA), which is a supportive way to help stabilise someone who is distressed. We must also establish dedicated, mobile teams trained in mental health support that can reach affected areas quickly.
Furthermore, systems must be created to ensure that individuals already receiving care for mental health conditions continue to get their medication and support during an emergency, and a larger, dedicated budget for mental health services should be allocated as a fundamental part of disaster relief.
Private donors and the corporate sector can also play a vital role—not just by donating physical goods, but by funding MHPSS training for NGOs and volunteer groups.
For the everyday Malaysian who wants to contribute, consider learning about PFA and volunteering your time as part of a mental health response effort.
This year’s theme is a timely and powerful reminder that there is truly no health without mental health. Emergencies may last for days or weeks, but their psychological scars can endure for years.
The time to act is now—to ensure that mental health support is not an afterthought, but a fundamental, immediate, and lasting part of every disaster response in Malaysia.
Dr Lim Poh Khuen is a consultant psychiatrist.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
