Mental health aspects of crisis management with real examples

Mental health can contribute to all stages of crisis or disaster management, specifically pertaining to vulnerability towards disasters during the prevention stage. This article shows the aspects of the Brazilian social structure, which make it vulnerable to the climatic events that affect the country. It endows itself with a sociological concept of disaster, which is defined by a disruptive event of social structure. In addition, it presents the structure of civil protection and mental health as part of management. The paper presents the natural disaster in the Mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro in 2011 together with the mental health work accomplished. Important aspects of mental health and good governance practices are pointed out in order to contribute to current strategies and assist in building effective plans. It is concluded that not only mental health professionals should invest in research and development of good governance practices, but organizations should include, in their structure, the findings and potentialities of mental health to deal with disasters and comply with the plan for more resilient societies. Plans like these should include the adequate preparation of the professionals who will work in-depth diagnostic assessment of the situation and consistent with the culture, just as the development of strategies for empowerment and creation of networks with the community.