Sofia Ramalho told the Lusa news agency that the activation of the fund was requested by the Psychological Intervention Support Center in Crisis

(CAPIC) of INEM, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, and by municipalities in coordination with the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANECP).

“We are currently talking about four municipalities – Pombal, Batalha, Alcácer, and Grândola – that have asked us for help,” she specified.

The president of the Order of Psychologists emphasised that the teams on the ground already include psychologists working directly with the municipalities in emergency response among the population, but they are no longer sufficient to meet the needs.

At the request of the Minister of Health, the OPP's Crisis and Disaster Intervention Pool was activated, comprising approximately 2,500 psychologists trained by the Order for crisis and disaster intervention.

The teams the OPP has deployed are organised and operate under a chain of command, namely the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) and ANECP.

According to Sofia Ramalho, the teams will complement and reinforce on-the-ground needs, comprising five psychologists, one of whom is responsible for local coordination with field entities.

“At the moment, we have about 10 intervention teams ready, and as this reinforcement becomes necessary in other locations, we send psychologists who are trained to intervene in crisis and emergency situations, and to provide psychological first aid” to the population.

These teams assess the need for emergency psychological intervention on the ground and provide daily status updates to the authorities.

The Portuguese Order of Psychologists (OPP) has also created a task force that is coordinating internal organisation to ensure the safe arrival of these teams, said Sofia Ramalho.

The president explained that people react differently to crisis and catastrophe situations, but are "in a state of great anxiety because the situation is expected to worsen, at least until the end of tomorrow [Saturday]."

"People also react in anticipation. This often creates situations of more acute stress, requiring immediate intervention," she stressed.

She also warned of the particular vulnerability of the elderly, people with disabilities, and users of social solidarity institutions.

Children also constitute a particularly vulnerable group, as do adults who, despite actively participating in the response to the situation, focused on ensuring safety, survival and the recovery of their belongings, show greater difficulty in responding rationally to this "situation of enormous adversity," Sofia Ramalho said.