Protecting the mental health of emergency responders

In late 2024, a series of strong typhoons—including Severe Tropical Storm Trami (Kristine) and Super Typhoon Kong-rey (Leon)—hit the Philippines one after another. The storms destroyed homes and displaced hundreds of thousands of families in the Bicol Region in the southern part of the Philippines’ Luzon Island. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 8.8 million people (about 2.25 million families) were affected with 151 recorded deaths, 134 injured and 21 missing.

Health Emergency Response Teams (HERTs) in Bicol were among the first to reach affected areas. They went from one evacuation center to another to deliver medical care and clean water. Many responders faced the same hardships as the people they served because their own families were also affected. The repeated disasters left them physically exhausted and emotionally drained.

To support their recovery, the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) organized a Caring for Carers workshop for responders from the Bicol Center for Health Development and local government units. Over three days, participants engaged in guided sessions focused on stress management, peer support, and self-care to help responders recover and maintain their wellbeing after extended field operations.

Understanding responders’ needs

A survey conducted before the workshop found that many responders were still experiencing stress weeks after deployment. Most relied on simple coping strategies such as deep breathing, talking with peers, or exercising when possible. However, few had access to structured mental health services.

A responder reflects on her experiences during the Caring for Carers activity. © WHO/Jose Eduardo Chua 2025

Twenty-six responders from regional and local health offices in Bicol participated in mindfulness and stretching exercises, psychosocial processing and guided journaling sessions as strategies to maintain wellbeing during and after supporting an emergency response.

“I’m grateful for the experience and the sense of renewal it brought,” said Windalyn Baluis from the DOH Bicol Center for Health Development. “It reminded me that empathy begins with understanding what others go through, and that caring for myself allows me to keep doing this work with compassion and strength.”

Participants shared that the sessions helped them pause and reconnect with the purpose of their work. Many noted that it was the first opportunity to speak openly about the challenges of serving as responders while also being part of affected communities.

Building resilience in emergency response

Through guided reflection, responders discussed how these principles inform decision-making and teamwork in emergency operations. Participants also emphasized that resilience also means knowing when to seek rest and peer support. By the end of the workshop, many participants reported feeling more grounded and better equipped to manage future response activities.

Responders from Bicol shared their experiences, reflections, and coping strategies in a psychosocial processing session during the Caring for Carers workshop. © WHO/Jose Eduardo Chua 2025

Embedding mental health in preparedness systems

Feedback from participants underscored the need for structured mechanisms and stronger support systems to protect the wellbeing of those on the front lines. They identified clear coordination, scheduled debriefing sessions, and accessible mental health services as essential components of both ongoing and post-emergency response operations.

“During Typhoon Kristine, many of our responders faced the same uncertainty and loss as the people they were helping,” said Jose Eduardo Chua, Technical Specialist, WHO Philippines. “They needed time and space to process those experiences. Supporting their mental health is essential to keeping our health workforce strong and ready for future emergencies.”

These insights now inform ongoing efforts by the DOH and WHO to strengthen support systems for responders across regions. Most importantly, they reaffirm that caring for health workers must be a core component of emergency preparedness and response rather than separate from it. WHO will continue working with the DOH and other partners to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into emergency response planning and capacity-building initiatives nationwide.

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WHO's Doing What Matters in Times of Stress guide offers the same evidence-based techniques introduced in the sessions and is freely available to the public.