Flash flood survivors in Nepal face serious psychological crisis

After the flash flood, many survivors in Nepal are facing insomnia, phobias and serious psychological crisis.

For four days, a couple in Nuwakot district believed the other had been swept away by floods. When the water flooded through the residential area, two people were stuck on both sides of the bank and completely lost contact. The Nepal Mental Health and Counseling Center's psychological support team then found them both by phone, helping them hear each other's voices again.

Knowing that the other person was still alive, they did not want to wait for the road to clear or the water to recede but proposed to meet immediately. A helicopter was dispatched to take them across the river. At the temporary shelter for the homeless, children ran to hug their parents and burst into tears.

The reunion was one of the few happy endings after the flood on August 26. As of the evening of August 31, Nepali authorities recorded 951 deaths, nearly 4,000 people missing and more than 11,000 people rescued. Houses, roads, bridges and many residential areas along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers have disappeared.

Mr. Gopal Bohara, a support psychologist at Bhairum High School in Bidur city, said many people show signs of sadness, anxiety, being easily startled and suspicious. At the temporary shelter, two children kept waking up in the middle of the night, screaming because they were afraid of the floodwaters coming. "Most of them are still in shock and cannot clearly explain their problems," Mr. Bohara said.

Mr. Bohara's team consists of four people, expected to work in Bidur for 10-15 days. They coordinate with medical staff to find relatives and identify cases that require urgent intervention.

However, psychiatrist Nirajan Bhattarai said many adults avoid contact with aid workers. Some are wary of being photographed or filmed because they suspect others are taking advantage of their situation. "Safety and basic needs must come first," Mr. Bhattarai said, adding that in-depth counseling will be deployed when the emergency period is over. His group now provides medication to people suffering from treatment interruptions and insomnia.

At the shelter, a woman with a history of mental disorders was swept away by floods and lost her medication. She had suicidal thoughts and committed acts of self-harm four times. The support team took her to Trishuli Hospital for treatment.

Besides, many people do not dare to sleep in the remaining houses for fear of floods. During the day, they return to get food, check their property and then return to the temporary shelter before dark.

Currently, about 50 psychiatrists and psychologists have been sent to Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts to provide psychological first aid. The Bagmati provincial government also prepared 64 additional consultants. According to experts, after the search ends, survivors will have to face their losses more clearly and the need for psychological support may last longer.