Earthquakes can leave lasting psychological wounds among the affected population.
The aftermath can be particularly stressful when survivors cannot find their missing relatives or carry out the cultural or religious rituals that provide a sense of closure after the loss of a loved one. In the case of the earthquake that has hit El Salvador, the number of victims, the many homes buried under landslides and the uncertainty about the fate of the missing are clear indicators of an imminent post-traumatic stress syndrome epidemic among the surviving population. One of the top priorities in caring for the affected citizenry must be to respond to their mental health needs. The Ministry of Health of El Salvador, in collaboration with other national and international bodies, has developed the following action plan to respond to these needs. The Problem Managing, in the short, medium, and long term, the disaster's impact on the psychosocial stability of previously emotionally healthy individuals and groups.