Mental health interventions for climate change-induced disaster survivors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): A systematic review.

Climate change-induced disasters continue to disproportionately affect low, middle and upper-middle income countries (LMICs), often leaving survivors at risk of serious mental health challenges. Yet, mental health interventions in these settings remain limited and poorly integrated into health systems. This study explores the types and levels of existing mental health interventions for individuals affected by climate-induced disasters, using the Inter-Agency Standing Committee's framework on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across six databases, yielding 14 studies for final analysis. Key data on study design, disaster type, mental health conditions, intervention types and service providers were extracted and mapped against the Inter-Agency Standing Committee framework. While interventions were identified across all four layers of support, most were concentrated at the individual level, focusing on non-specialised services delivered by trained non-specialist providers (e.g., community health workers or lay counsellors) and specialised services provided by licenced clinical professionals, with limited emphasis on community-based or systems-level approaches. Results indicate such a significant gap, about 79% of the studies focused on the individual level, in mental health interventions in LMICs. It is therefore crucial to address these gaps to ensure comprehensive mental health care is available in disaster-prone countries.