Suggestions for Supporting Psychosocial Wellbeing and Mental Health

People will benefit from having reliable information about their family members and loved ones as soon as possible.

1. Set up a system such as a registry to keep track of names of people who have been found, who are in hospitals, who are in refugee camps or who have found shelter with relatives or friends

2. Have names and/or details of the system/registry so that people know where to call or contact regarding the location of their families or friends

3. Concerning unaccompanied children, the elderly and vulnerable groups such as those who have lost all or most of their family, help them to locate family members or other known people

Information about the following should be made available in uncomplicated language:

1. What are tsunamis, how and why they occur will be helpful for people to understand what has happened. However, people’s understanding and explanation of the tsunami will also be linked to their religious and cultural beliefs regarding disasters and crises.

2. Signs indicating further tsunamis, and what to do in case these signs appear

3. Where to call or contact regarding reliable information on the possibility of further tsunamis

Information about the following should be made available in uncomplicated language:

1. Ongoing efforts to establish the safety of people in the tsunami-affected areas

2. Ongoing relief efforts, including what each organisation is doing and where they are located

3. Contact names and details of people to call regarding relief efforts, if people would like to donate things, bring relief, get relief or volunteer themselves

A good guideline for uncomplicated language is if local 12-year olds can understand the information.