The tsunami had an effect you don’t often hear about.

When tsunami waves hit southeast Asia last December, Torontonians also felt the impact. Even while they quickly and generously began donating to aid efforts, thousands in Toronto struggled to cope with the tragedy in a personal way. A Toronto woman, Leila*, turned to a United Way agency for help.

Leila and her family had loved ones in a tsunami-hit region. When the family learned of the disaster, they fell rapidly into action here at home. They busied themselves with round-the-clock Internet searches for any news about their loved ones and became heavily involved in various relief efforts. The family felt the need to do something instead of just waiting to hear their loved ones had died.

In fact, Leila’s family became so busy doing, they stopped talking to each other about their feelings. Leila needed to communicate what she was feeling – fear, worry, helplessness – but no one at home would stop to talk about these things. Desperate for a listening ear, she called the Distress Centres of Toronto’s helpline and found emotional support.

With funding from United Way, the agency can provide 24-hour telephone support, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and emotional support to anyone who calls its helpline at a time of need.

In the weeks following the tsunami, the centres received a steady influx of calls. Many calls came from people like Leila, feeling anxious about their loved ones in Asia and needing support. Many other calls came from Torontonians, who did not have a direct connection to the disaster, but were still affected by it.

Throughout each year, the 24-hour centres receive calls weekends and after business hours – a service most appreciated by callers who had even fewer places to turn to for help because of holiday closings.

Karen Letofsky, executive director of the centres, remembers a call from a young mother during that time, “She was deeply sorrowed at the loss of so many young children during the tsunami and expressed worry about the fact that there are just some uncontrollable events in life even parents cannot protect their children from.”

Distress Centres of Toronto has been supporting people in need across Toronto since 1967 with the help of 600 volunteers in Downtown, North York and Scarborough.

*The caller’s name has been changed. The Distress Centres of Toronto has no further knowledge about what became of Leila’s loved ones.