A 55-year-old homemaker living in Kathmandu has found herself scrolling through her mobile phone every few minutes for news about the Rasuwa flood. In recent days, much of her time is spent watching television reports and social media videos showing the destruction, rescue efforts, and images of those who lost their lives. She reports headaches, disturbed sleep, and persistent fatigue for a week. Amid growing fear, she has forbidden her daughter from travelling to areas near riverbanks. The recent floods and debris flow of August 26 and September 27 struck Rasuwa and Chame in north-central Nepal and affected communities along nearby river corridors. For those individuals who are directly affected, the trauma is deeply personal and irreplaceable in terms of their loved ones, their lands, and their belongings. Families in affected areas are facing bereavement, missing relatives and documents, damaged homes, and disrupted livelihoods. But there is another group (indirect), which we rarely talk about – people who witness the disaster from a distance. The person may be sitting in Pokhara, Chitwan, or Australia or America. Though they have never entered the place, constant exposure to videos, photographs, and rescue footage following updates on social media have left profound impression on their minds. Hearing interviews and stories from relatives and friends and imagining what the affected families are going through are deeply unsettling. We may be physically safe, but distressing coverage can keep some people focused on the threat or unsettled after viewing it even though the person may not have been in physical proximity to the incident. Studies have found a link between heavier exposure to disaster news and post-traumatic stress symptoms (the mind and body continuing to react as if the danger is still present), but that does not prove that viewing news causes a disorder. A person's own experiences, their connection to those affected, and the nature of the coverage can all shape their response. Fear, sadness, anger, poor sleep, and difficulty concentrating can follow a major emergency. However, they do not, by themselves, mean that a person has a mental health condition. People of different ages and backgrounds (gender, profession, ethnicity) may be affected. During a teleconsultation, a 10-year-old girl from Surkhet described her anxiety-related complaints – difficulty in breathing, nightmare of her parents leaving her and brother, difficulty in focusing on her studies – and worried that she might lose her parents after seeing continuous reports and images of people affected by disasters. At her age, she may not fully understand that the same disaster footage can be repeated across television and social media, or the use of AI may exaggerate the intensity of news, which can make her believe that the danger is happening repeatedly or is still continuing. In such a case, adults can support children by limiting graphic coverage in shared spaces, avoiding discussing frightening details in front of them, and answering children's questions in clear, age-appropriate language. Maintaining familiar routines such as schoolwork, play, meals, and bedtime can further help children regain a sense of safety and predictability in life. Older adults may also feel more fearful, helpless, lonely, or worried after repeated exposure to frightening disaster news and may worry about their own safety and the safety of family members. Family members can help to limit the amount of continuous news coverage, but be sure older adults still get reliable updates. Young and working-age adults also may be anxious as they watch for updates on a disaster and juggle work, family, and caregiving responsibilities. Following familiar routines (including social contact, meals, sleep, and prescribed medications) can also offer a sense of stability in uncertain times. In Nepal, where communities face recurring hazards, a few simple steps can help people stay informed without watching distressing footage all day: choose reliable news and official sources, check updates at set times, turn off unnecessary notifications, and avoid replaying graphic videos or sharing unverified images. If a video shows identifiable survivors or grieving families, consider their privacy before forwarding it. People working at disaster sites (army, police, search-and-rescue personnel, professionals, ambulance workers, helicopter rescuers, journalists, volunteers, and humanitarian workers) also need support. Employers and response agencies should provide safe rest, manageable shifts, supportive supervision, and confidential access to care. Self-care should not be considered a selfish act but a priority for this group as well. No one should be pressured to recount distressing events before they are ready. Newsrooms have responsibilities, too. Reporters should verify casualty figures, respect privacy, and take particular care when interviewing bereaved people and children. Public information does not require repeated images of bodies or private grief. Accurate reporting and measured media use help people remain informed while making room for recovery. WHO guidance notes that distress is common after emergencies and often improves, though some people need further care. As communities rebuild after the hazards, prioritising and caring for one another's emotional well-being must remain part of the recovery. If these symptoms last longer, become more intense, or start impairing our day-to-day functioning, psychological support may be needed – sometimes psychiatric help for medication, too. Rishika is a clinical psychologist and Madhusudan a PhD scholar in psychology