Diana Setiyawati, S.Psi., MHSc., Ph.D., Psikolog, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), is one of the grantees of the Community Service Program for Emergency Disaster Response in the Provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra funded by the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. She received funding for a program entitled “Integrated Psychosocial Recovery Program for Communities Affected by Floods in Sumatra.”
The program was designed as a rapid response to the floods and landslides that have struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra since late November 2025, which have been recorded as among the deadliest disasters in the past two decades. Triggered by extreme monsoon rains and Cyclone Senyar, the disaster not only damaged houses, schools, health facilities, and infrastructure, but also caused profound psychosocial distress among millions of affected residents.
“In the midst of the focus on fulfilling physical needs, mental health and psychosocial support are often left behind, even though the psychological impact of disasters can last much longer,” Diana explains in the program proposal.
Responding to this situation, the UGM team designed an integrated psychosocial recovery intervention that combines early response in the field with the strengthening of medium- and long-term support systems at both community and local government levels.
This program involves a cross-level team from the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). In addition to Diana Setiyawati as the team leader, the participating faculty members include Pradytia Putri Pertiwi, Ph.D., and Dr. Marty Mawarpuri, M.Psi., Psikolog. The program also involves undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from UGM Psychology, including Yuli Arinta Dewi, S.P., M.Si.; Intan Dewi Kumala, S.Psi., M.Si.; Fransisca Louisiana Yudi; Rohadatul Goiyas Finandita; Naila Athifa; and Keisha Tiara Ramadhania, who will be directly involved in assisting with assessment, psychosocial support, education, and the organization of field activities.
This psychosocial recovery program focuses on the regions of Pidie Jaya, Bireuen, Lhokseumawe, and North Aceh, with two main partners:
- Yayasan Geutanyoe, a humanitarian organization that has long been active in Aceh; and
- The Governments of Pidie Jaya Regency, Bireuen Regency, Lhokseumawe City, and North Aceh Regency, with the support of partner universities of Universitas Syiah Kuala.
In addition to working with local volunteers, the team also coordinates with the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) of Universitas Syiah Kuala to further integrate psychosocial support within the regional disaster preparedness and response system.
The program consists of three main components: Capacity building for volunteers through training in Rapid Mental Health Assessment (RMHA) and Psychological First Aid (PFA); Direct services for affected communities, including psychosocial support and mental health education; and Strengthening policies and local psychosocial support systems at the district level.
As an initial step, on 9 December 2025 a virtual briefing session was held for mentors and volunteers. During this session, the UGM team introduced the current psychosocial conditions of affected communities, the basic principles of PFA, the use of RMHA instruments, as well as ethical guidelines for working in disaster settings. The briefing also served as a technical coordination forum between the UGM team, local partners, and volunteers who will later be deployed in the field.
Through this program, the Faculty of Psychology UGM reaffirms its commitment to stand alongside communities in disaster-affected areas, not only during the emergency response phase but also in preparing more resilient psychosocial support systems for the future. The Integrated Psychosocial Recovery Program for Communities Affected by Floods in Sumatra is scheduled to run intensively during the emergency phase and will be followed by continued assistance to support recovery and medium- to long-term mitigation efforts.
Writer: Raden Roro Anisa Anggi Dinda