Tsunami: understanding mental health consequences and the unprecedented response

Abstract

The 26th December 2004 saw a disaster brought on by massive waves - the Asian Tsunami. Millions of people died or were affected to varying degrees. The mental health aftermath did not only hit the Tsunami affected areas but it also sent ripples globally. Financial and humanitarian aid was overwhelming. This review brings together the mental health consequences and the global response. It provides a systematic overview of the mental health problems both within the affected areas and globally. It considers different levels and intensities of mental health problems both in affected areas and globally and explores the effects on vulnerable groups. It describes the unprecedented response and highlights the importance of providing culturally and contextually sensitive, integrated and co-ordinated interventions, informed by qualitative and quantitative assessment of needs, urgency and resource availability. The review also provides a retrospective view on the drivers of such a response.