USU PR — The Psychosocial Mental Health Support Team (DKJPS) has mobilized to assist disaster-affected residents in Langkat Regency. The initiative was organized by the North Sumatra Branch of the Indonesian Psychiatric Association (PDSKJI) and led by M. Surya Husada, M.Ked., Sp.KJ(K), who also serves as Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine of Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU). The team involved 15 psychiatry residents from FK USU along with several psychiatry staff members.

On Friday (5/12/2025), the team departed from Medan to the Disaster Response Post in Tanjung Pura, Langkat, and was welcomed by the Director of RSUD Tanjung Pura and the Subdistrict Head of Tanjung Pura. The presence of the DKJPS team formed part of a strengthened post-disaster response that addresses not only physical complaints but also ensures that survivors’ psychological needs are managed from an early stage.

In the field, the team provided psychosocial assistance and mental health services at the main evacuation post, including assessments of residents’ psychological conditions, emotional support, early management of post-disaster stress, and education for families on maintaining mental resilience during emergency situations. The team also reached other evacuation points to deliver general health services, treating commonly encountered complaints such as nausea, diarrhea, fever, cough, and skin conditions (itching), while continuing to pay close attention to the emotional state of residents who remained anxious and distressed.

In addition to psychosocial services, the team brought medications for psychiatric case management as well as basic necessities for evacuees, including instant noodles, eggs, canned food, baby biscuits, children’s milk, soap and shampoo, mosquito repellent lotion, mineral water, clothing, and children’s toys. This assistance is expected to help ease the burden on residents while also fostering a sense of safety, particularly for children and families in evacuation shelters.

The Head of the DKJPS team, M. Surya Husada, emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration and attention to mental health in disaster response. “In facing natural disasters, close cooperation and collaboration among various parties are essential to provide assistance, especially health support, both physical and mental. Good mental health is crucial for survivors to recover, regain function as healthy individuals, and return to being productive and dignified members of society,” he stated.

Through this initiative, DKJPS FK USU–PDSKJI North Sumatra Branch reaffirmed its commitment to continuously accompany disaster-affected communities in a comprehensive manner. USU believes that post-disaster recovery is not only about rebuilding physical living spaces, but also about restoring hope and mental resilience so that survivors can rise again with greater strength.