Kerala Mobilizes Mental Health Team After Devastating Wayanad Landslide

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
A specialized Mental Health Disaster Management team has been swiftly formed in Kerala to offer psychosocial support to survivors of the catastrophic Wayanad landslide, where more than 200 lives were lost and many remain missing, according to state Health Minister Veena George on Friday.

George confirmed that the 121-member team, composed of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and counsellors, was organized on Tuesday, directly following the disaster in this hilly district. Only members with ID cards from the health department are permitted to provide mental health services to survivors in relief camps and hospital wards.

The health team has implemented help desks across all hospitals and relief camps. “Mental health workers will address survivors’ concerns and offer solace, prioritizing children, pregnant women, and the elderly,” the minister stated in an official release. The health department recognizes that the mental distress caused by the disaster may require ongoing support.

Team members are tasked with identifying individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions to ensure their treatment continues uninterrupted. Treatment for withdrawal symptoms related to substance abuse is also being provided. Additionally, counselling extends to health and rescue workers, including police and local officials managing the aftermath.

For broader assistance, a 24-hour toll-free number, ‘14416’, offers continuous mental health support. The health department reported 201 fatalities and 264 injuries from the landslides. Of the injured, 176 have been discharged, two referred to other facilities, and 86 are still receiving hospital care. The landslides displaced 9,328 people now residing in 91 relief camps. Rescuers continue to contend with challenging conditions, including waterlogged soil, as they search for missing persons.