Around 35 families are taking shelter inside the Holy Family Parish in the Roxas District in Quezon City on October 24, 2024, after evacuating from their homes due to heavy rains and flooding. The flooding, which left several homes submerged and roads impassable, was caused by continuous rains overnight brought by tropical storm Kristine. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — As residents of storm-hit areas try to recover from the disaster, the Department of Health (DOH) has deployed health workers who can also provide mental health and psychosocial services.

Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, DOH spokesperson, on Monday said the health workers are stationed in different evacuation centers, and are equipped with basic training on providing mental health support.

Domingo shared simply checking in with each other is of big help in dealing with problems.

"Mabigat na problema, mabigat sa ating karamdaman kapag tayo ay nagkaroon ng evacuation. Naalis tayo sa bahay natin, namatayan ng isang kamag-anak dahil sa sakuna na nangyari," he told a televised interview on state-run PTV-4.

(It's a heavy problem, a heavy feeling when we have to evacuate. We have to leave our homes, or we may have lost a relative because of the disaster)

He said that even "brief interventions" can help ease anxiety and trauma.

"Kahit simpleng kumustahan lang po sa evacuation center, malaking bagay po iyan," he added.

(Even just a simple 'how are you' at the evacuation center can be a big help)

READ: 116 reported dead due to Kristine — NDRRMC

Domingo, who is also a physician, explained people should have a "genuine connection" for those who are going through trying times.

"Ibig sabihin, nirerespeto natin ang sitwasyon nila at hinahayaan nating ma-process iyong kanilang damdamin," he said. 

(That means we respect their situation and we let them process what they are feeling)

He said that it is not wrong to be sad in the aftermath of emergencies like flooding and storms and that being able to express one's feelings to someone trained to provide mental health services helps.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, spokesperson of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said social workers on the ground are also offering psychological first aid.

Dumlao acknowledged that the recent disaster has caused "extreme trauma", which has prompted the interventions.

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