Bridging Global Knowledge and Local Action: Psychiatric and Psychosocial Lessons from the 2025 Hat Yai Flood

Jarurin Pitanupong, Pakawat Wiwattanaworaset, Pattaraporn Kong-in

Abstract

Disasters such as floods pose significant risks to mental health, particularly for children, adolescents, and other vulnerable populations. Early, evidence-informed interventions are critical to preventing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and promoting psychological recovery. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is widely recommended as a humane, supportive, and practical approach that avoids forced trauma disclosure. Child-focused interventions delivered through structured play-based and art-based group activities foster emotional regulation, resilience, social connectedness, and the restoration of daily routines. Caregiver mental health support further enhances child outcomes by reducing stress and improving caregiving confidence. Integrated psychosocial and community-based strategies, including culturally adapted programs and peer-supported activities, strengthen social networks and promote adaptive coping. Drawing on global evidence and using the 2025 Hat Yai flood response as an illustrative implementation example, this narrative review synthesizes effective early interventions and practical strategies for implementing mental health and psychosocial support in disaster settings. Emphasizing timely, contextually appropriate, and scalable approaches is essential for improving disaster preparedness and long-term mental health outcomes.

 Keywords

child psychosocial support; community-based interventions, disaster mental health; psychological first aid; post-traumatic stress disorder prevention; Thailand

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31584/jhsmr.20261421

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