Invisible Wounds: Disasters and the Mind
Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, storms, and forest fires affect people physically and psychologically. Beyond losing property or safety, survivors often experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress that can persist long after the event (Keya et al., 2023; Patwary et al., 2024).
To better understand the psychological impact of disasters, the Disaster Ecology Model explains that psychological impact not only depends on the disaster itself but also on factors such as housing loss, financial hardship, and social support (Patwary et al., 2024). Strong social ties and culturally relevant support are key protective factors in recovery (Rowe & Nadkarni, 2024), and importantly, distress after a disaster doesn't always lead to lasting mental illness. Outcomes depend on both individual and social factors (Hall et al., 2023).
How Can Outsiders Support Disaster Survivors?
Recovery depends mainly on survivors themselves, but outsiders can still help meaningfully. The WHO's Psychological First Aid framework offers a simple approach: Look, Listen, and Link (World Health Organization, 2011; Psychological First Aid: Facilitator's Manual for Orienting Field Workers, n.d.).
Look - Make sure it's safe, and notice who needs help most, especially children, the elderly, or anyone in visible distress.
Listen - Approach calmly, let them share if they want to, and help them feel calmer without pushing them to talk.
Link - Connect them to basic needs (food, shelter, information) and further support like counselling or loved ones.
Supporting survivors doesn't require specialised training, patience and genuine presence can make a real difference. Disaster recovery is never just about rebuilding homes, it's equally about restoring psychological well-being and resilience.
Some survivors may need more than community support can offer. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2021), professional help may be needed if someone experiences persistent anxiety or numbness, ongoing sleep or functioning difficulties, intrusive flashbacks, increased substance use, or thoughts of self-harm. Encouraging them to reach out to a mental health professional or local support services can be an important step toward recovery.
However, if you feel that you are still struggling or need additional support, it is okay to reach out to a mental health professional. You do not have to go through everything alone. Seeking professional help can provide you with a safe space to understand your feelings, develop healthy coping strategies, and receive the support you need.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2021). Coping after trauma and disaster: Mental health tips and resources. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/coping-after-disaster-trauma
Hall, C. E., Wehling, H., Stansfield, J., South, J., Brooks, S. K., Greenberg, N., Amlôt, R., & Weston, D. (2023). Examining the role of community resilience and social capital on Mental Health in Public Health Emergency and disaster response: A scoping review. BMC Public Health, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17242-x
Keya, T. A., Leela, A., Habib, N., Rashid, M., & Bakthavatchalam, P. (2023). Mental Health Disorders due to disaster exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cureus, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.37031
Patwary, M. M., Bardhan, M., Haque, M. A., Moniruzzaman, S., Gustavsson, J., Khan, M. M. H., Koivisto, J., Salwa, M., Mashreky, S. R., Rahman, A. K. M. F., Tasnim, A., Islam, M. R., Alam, M. A., Hasan, M., Harun, M. A. Y. Al, Nyberg, L., & Islam, M. A. (2024). Impact of extreme weather events on mental health in South and Southeast Asia: A two decades of systematic review of observational studies. Environmental Research, 250, 118436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118436
Psychological first aid: Facilitator’s manual for orienting field workers. (2014, February 7). Www.Who.Int. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241548618
Rowe, O., & Nadkarni, A. (2023). Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of mental health and psychosocial support programmes following natural disasters in developing countries: A systematic review. Global Mental Health, 1–40. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2023.91
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