In India, the silent aftermath of disasters often lingers far beyond physical destruction—etched into the minds of survivors as chronic anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. These invisible wounds are frequently overlooked, despite mounting evidence of their profound impact on individual well-being and community resilience. As we observe Stress Awareness Month, it becomes all the more urgent to acknowledge that psychological recovery is as critical as physical rehabilitation. Yet, mental health continues to remain on the periphery of disaster management, constrained by a shortage of trained personnel, fragmented institutional frameworks, and a dearth of culturally grounded intervention models. In response to these enduring challenges, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is stepping forward to integrate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) as a core pillar of India’s disaster preparedness and response architecture.

To drive this transformative agenda, NDMA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and UNICEF, is convening a two-day National Workshop titled “Navigating Post-Disaster Mental Health: #CalmAmidChaos”, scheduled for April 16–17, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This strategic forum will bring together policymakers, mental health professionals, disaster risk reduction (DRR) practitioners, and technology innovators to co-create actionable frameworks. The workshop will spotlight trauma-informed care, inter-sectoral coordination, AI-enabled decision-support systems, and the development of standardized MHPSS protocols. Aligned with the Government of India’s flagship ₹2,500-crore Manas Swasthya Abhiyan, this initiative presents a critical opportunity to embed scalable and contextually relevant disaster mental health services into the nation’s growing public health landscape.