Life insurer Pru Life UK tackled the intersection of climate change and health, with focus on mental health, during an employee session held during its PRUCommunity Day on July 2, 2024. The PRUCommunity Day is Pru Life UK’s initiative to gather employees and celebrate diversity through various communities or advocacy groups that promote a sense of belonging and inclusion.
Led by its sustainability changemakers community, with members advocating positive change and long-term resilience for Filipinos, the session prompted critical challenges and opportunities, discussing concerns on climate health.
Dr. John Jamir Benzon Aruta, associate professor of Psychology at De La Salle University and expert on environmental psychology and mental and planetary health, highlighted the profound impact of climate-related events on mental health, particularly among agricultural workers.
He emphasized the urgent need for accessible mental health support, underscoring the debilitating effects of climate-induced adversities on vulnerable communities.
Echoing concerns raised by the Philippine Mental Health Association Inc. (PMHA), Dr. Aruta said mental health care should be accessible to all Filipinos, regardless of their socio-economic status.
