The Need for Mental Health Guidelines to Strengthen Disaster Management Policy and Support Responders in Developing Countries

Natural disasters significantly hinder sustainable development, causing damage to infrastructure, economic losses, and adverse physical and mental health impacts. This research explores the mental health effects of disasters on disaster management practitioners (DMPs) and affected individuals, highlighting a critical regulatory and policy gap and the implications of failing to address well-being in disaster response management (DRM) frameworks. This study emphasizes the need to integrate mental health guidelines into DRM policy as part of a broader ethical framework for duty of care. To achieve this, the study surveyed architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) experts in Peru on their perspectives regarding mental health challenges in disaster scenarios. An ordered probit regression assessed factors shaping expert perceptions of the importance of equipping DMPs with mental health competencies. Results revealed that disasters severely affect victims and responders, with key challenges including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, they revealed limited awareness of existing interventions and strong expert support for integrating mental health into DRM. These findings underscore the urgent need to equip DMPs with mental health knowledge and skills to address the complex impacts of disasters, fostering a holistic, sustainable, and resilient DRM approach that prioritizes well-being and provides valuable policy insights for communities, disaster managers, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders. This study paves the way for the integration of mental health guidelines into DRM policy to promote a more effective approach that fosters resilience and overall well-being.