A 24x7 free helpline was launched here Tuesday for offering counselling to the trauma-hit Uttarakhand flood survivors, said an expert organising the service.
The private 'Crisis Intervention Helpline' on phone number 9910135205, managed by Delhi Psychiatric Centre (DPC) and Cosmos Institute of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, will help victims overcome psychological trauma, depression, insomnia and other sleep disorders.
"Victims of such disasters, especially those who have lost their family members, can have nightmares, panic attacks, excessive sadness and even death wishes," said Sunil Mittal, director of Delhi Psychiatric Centre.
"It becomes a major task then to help them overcome the trauma and aid them to get to their optimal level of functioning," he added.
According to the doctors, in the weeks and months to come, many survivors will continue to experience mental distress, deep psychological shock, or psychotic breakdown.
