Geopsychiatry in South Asia: The need, challenges, and ways forward

South Asia comprises eight low and middle-income countries, which cater to 25% of the global population. The region has been facing a wide range of geo-politico-environmental challenges, including climate change, migration, and socio-political conflicts. Along with these issues, it is one of the most disaster-prone regions of the world, where there are inadequate mental health professionals, a low mental health budget, inadequate mental health literacy, high out-of-pocket expenses, and higher stigma towards mental health, where the impact of geo-politico-environmental disasters on mental health is largely neglected. This paper highlights the importance of geopsychiatry, potential challenges, and prospective solutions in the South Asian context to draw attention of the local, regional, and international policy makers.