Preparedness depends on more than individual expertise. It requires systems with clear responsibilities, established protocols, trained people, and the resources to act.
PreAct’s research has identified significant gaps in these areas, including limited dedicated funding, shortages of trained personnel, and the absence of formal disaster mental health protocols in many organizations.
Advocacy therefore forms a bridge between what is learned in the field and what changes at the system level. PreAct works with institutions and decision-makers to translate evidence and field experience into stronger approaches to planning, coordination, training, and resource allocation.
The aim is not to create a single model for every community. Effective preparedness needs to reflect local systems, cultures, and resources. Instead, PreAct advocates for a framework in which mental health preparedness becomes a defined and supported part of emergency planning.
Building readiness before a crisis means making preparedness part of how systems operate - not something added only after disaster strikes.