The Impact of the 2025 Climate-Related Natural Disaster (Cyclone Ditwah) on Mental Health Outcomes in Sri Lanka

 

Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge 

Cyclone Ditwah has resulted in a tragic toll, with 465 confirmed fatalities and around 366 individuals still unaccounted for. Some estimates suggest that the actual numbers may be even higher. The disaster has displaced over 61,000 families, who are currently seeking refuge in emergency shelters. In total, more than 1.5 million people across all 25 districts of the country have been impacted by this devastating event.

Natural disasters are significant adverse events caused by natural processes of the Earth, often leading to loss of life, psychological trauma, and widespread property damage (Saeed & Gargano, 2022). The recent cyclones and flood-related disasters in Sri Lanka have profound and lasting psychosocial impacts on affected populations, driven by immediate trauma and secondary stressors like displacement and economic hardship. These impacts are seen at individual, family, and community levels. Individuals may struggle with feelings of grief, anxiety, and helplessness, while families often experience disruptions in their social structures and support networks. At the community level, collective trauma can weaken social cohesion, increasing tensions.

Sri Lankan society is still dealing with the aftermath of a 30-year civil war, and the devastating natural disaster, Cyclone Ditwah, is likely to intensify these challenges. The resulting crisis is one of the worst natural disasters the country has faced since the 2004 tsunami. The disaster in 2025 is predicted to cause severe psychosocial repercussions for vulnerable communities.

As described by Christodoulou (2024), disasters—whether natural or human-made—place significant stress on the mental health of individuals, communities, and entire societies. Therefore, implementing effective, evidence-based interventions is vital for fostering a sense of safety, hope, and optimism among those affected. These strategies also help strengthen social bonds, supporting individuals as they navigate their difficulties.

The 2025 Cyclones and flood-related disasters in Sri Lanka led to various serious mental health issues in the affected population, including trauma-related disorders, mood disturbances, and social upheaval. After natural disasters, people in impacted areas are at increased risk of developing mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression (Crombach & Siehl, 2018). Addressing these mental health challenges in Sri Lanka requires an integrated, culturally sensitive approach that combines immediate practical support with long-term, professional, and community-driven interventions.

Addressing the psychosocial needs of those affected by cyclones and flood-related disasters calls for a professional and structured approach. In such emergencies, a community mental health strategy is especially important. This approach allows peripheral mental health workers to act as mediators between survivors and specialized mental health services, helping to remove treatment barriers (Davidson & McFarlane, 2006).

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is recommended as an immediate response and is delivered by non-specialists such as neighbours, volunteers, and first responders. This approach underscores the importance of providing practical aid—like food, water, and shelter—while respecting the dignity of survivors. It also focuses on ensuring safety and comfort, listening attentively without pressuring individuals to discuss traumatic experiences, and helping connect them with loved ones and support networks. Ensuring access to support is essential for effective recovery after a disaster (Güngörmüş & Özgüç, 2025).

Furthermore, timely and accurate information about relief efforts can help reduce anxiety and uncertainty. Beyond immediate aid, it is crucial to address basic needs and implement psychotherapeutic interventions, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness practices, and traditional healing methods.

Human resilience is a unique trait enabling individuals to adapt and flourish despite adversity. Bakic and colleagues (2021) suggest that disaster-affected individuals can utilise their personal, social, and community resources to recover and adapt. In the context of the 2025 disaster, although it will undoubtedly present significant challenges, it also has the potential to unify communities, test resilience, and drive recovery efforts. Additionally, it offers a vital opportunity to learn important lessons about environmental conservation and the need for sustainable planning practices.  

 

References;

Bakic H, Ajdukovic D. Resilience after natural disasters: the process of harnessing resources in communities differentially exposed to a flood. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2021 Mar 18;12(1):1891733. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1891733. PMID: 34992751; PMCID: PMC8725694.  

Christodoulou N. Disaster Psychiatry: An urgent field in psychiatry posing a pertinent question. Psychiatriki. 2024 Dec 27;35(4):265-268. English, Greek, Modern. doi: 10.22365/jpsych.2024.022. Epub 2024 Dec 15. PMID: 39688605. 

Crombach A, Siehl S. Impact and cultural acceptance of the Narrative Exposure Therapy in the aftermath of a natural disaster in Burundi. BMC Psychiatry. 2018 Jul 18;18(1):233. doi: 10.1186/s12888-018-1799-3. PMID: 30021559; PMCID: PMC6052646.

Davidson JR, McFarlane AC. The extent and impact of mental health problems after disaster. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006;67 Suppl 2:9-14. PMID: 16602810.

Güngörmüş Z, Özgüç S. Psychosocial problems observed in older adults after disaster. Psychogeriatrics. 2025 Mar;25(2):e70001. doi: 10.1111/psyg.70001. PMID: 39853583.

Saeed SA, Gargano SP. Natural disasters and mental health. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2022 Feb;34(1):16-25. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2022.2037524. Epub 2022 Feb 15. PMID: 35584023.