Jakarta – Almost half a million Acehnese may suffer depression, anxiety and sleep disorders due to last month's tsunami disaster, but only five psychiatrists are on hand to treat them, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

But there are no health centers offering psychological treatment in Aceh, a province of 4 million people, said Dr Benedetto Saraceno, director of WHO's department of mental health.

Acehnese people usually go to their family, traditional healers or religious leaders to seek help when they suffer from these problems, he said.

"This will be a massive psychosocial problem," Saraceno said. "Almost all the affected population will in the next months show some kind of psychological disorders."

Suicide attempts and domestic violence may also increase, he added.

Indonesia's health department will send two teams of six experts each to train local community leaders and health workers to give psychological "first aid" in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, and the second biggest city of Lhokseumawe, said Stephanus Indrajada from WHO Indonesia.

Aceh was the worst hit of Indonesia's provinces in the December 26 tsunami disaster which affected 11 Indian Ocean nations.

Children and the elderly who have lost most of their families will be the most vulnerable, but the Acehnese are pulling together, Indrajada said.

"Neighbors and extended family are helping out," he said. "I don't expect the children and elderly to be abandoned."

However, a well-planned, long-term strategy for mental health treatment must be integrated into Aceh's health care system following the tsunami disaster, he added.