UPDATE: MSF provides mental health support for earthquake survivors in Venezuela
11 August 2026 - More than a month and a half after the twin earthquakes on June 24 in north-central Venezuela - which left more than 6,300 people dead and 1,400 missing - affected communities in La Guaira and Caracas are facing a profound mental health crisis marked by grief, displacement, and the loss of a sense of safety in their own homes.
In response to this situation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) deployed a comprehensive response that includes mental health care and psychosocial support through mobile clinics in La Guaira (Maiquetía, Catia La Mar, Tanaguarena) and Caracas (Av. Bolívar).
Mental health activities provide a safe space for affected communities to express and process what they are experiencing. Through community psychoeducation, teams support children, adolescents, and adults in recognizing reactions such as fear, sadness, and distress, allowing for the early identification of those who require Psychological First Aid (PFA) and initial emotional support.
When the emotional impact interferes with daily life or self-care, MSF offers individual and family consultations to strengthen coping strategies and, if necessary, refer patients to specialized services.
Losing a loved one, one's home, or daily livelihood leaves a profound impact that can severely affect mental health, causing deep sadness, anxiety, or grief. In daily life, this impact often manifests through a persistent fear of aftershocks, trouble sleeping or nightmares, sudden mood swings, isolation, and involuntary memories that make people relieve the moment of the earthquakes.
To date, MSF has provided care to:
- 310 people in individual mental health consultations.
- 4,245 people through group therapy sessions and community support.
- 707 people assisted with Psychological First Aid and immediate emotional support.
Additionally, MSF provides specialized psychosocial care at the "Los Silos" morgue in La Guaira. This support is aimed both at families searching for the bodies of their loved ones and at forensic and administrative staff exposed to high levels of emotional strain.
In disaster contexts, mental health care is not a luxury, but a basic necessity that is essential for alleviating suffering and protecting human dignity.
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MSF UK