Mental Health Vulnerability Index (MHVI): preparing communities, societies and authorities for the impacts of climate change on mental health

This report highlights how climate change poses a significant challenge to mental health and well-being. To ensure that early warning systems (EWS) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies continue to work in an era of growing climatic variability, this report undertakes an analysis of the current literature and policy of EWS and DRR strategies and proposes a novel solution - the Mental Health Vulnerability Index (MHVI) - to help a range of agencies identify communities most vulnerable to developing mental ill health during climatic hazards.

The report gives the following key recommendations to ensure EWS incorporate a community mental health-centred approach:

• Ensure EWS are co-designed with community members and mental health professionals to enable clear communication relevant to the geographic location and cultural understandings of mental health/illness.
• Actively involve marginalised groups, such as persons with disabilities and adolescents, as they are most vulnerable to developing mental health conditions.
• Diversify how warnings are communicated to ensure collective understanding, as this can reduce distress.
• Ensure warnings incorporate mental well-being advice as well as guidance to access mental health care.