title: Mental health and psychosocial support after the tsunami: observations across affected nations.
abstract: The countries affected by the tsunami responded to the natural disaster promptly but with different results and outcomes. The reasons for this varied response were many. The outcome depended upon a number of factors, including the extent of the damage to property and lives, accessibility of the areas and existing disaster plans. In this paper we present the overall observations and suggest the way forward.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Unit, Department of Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health, World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia, New Delhi, India. chandrav@searo.who.int
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandav
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhugra
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004190:Disasters; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011584:Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data