Disasters cause psychological harm and distress, yet assessments often overlook these impacts in favour of those more easily quantified and monetised. Few studies have, for example, explored psychological functioning of people during and after disasters in Vanuatu – globally the most at-risk nation to environmental hazards. This paper explores the emotional and psychological impact of the 2017/18 volcanic activity on Ambae Island, Vanuatu, and the subsequent evacuations. Drawing on interviews with eight Ambaeans, we explore experiences of loss and the associated feelings of fear, helplessness, distress, frustration, and anger. We also identify ongoing efforts by participants to cope and heal though return movements, reinstating a sense of normalcy, reviving cultural practices and community, environmental recovery, good leadership, and religion. Disaster preparedness, intervention, and recovery efforts must pay attention to local people’s narratives of loss and distress and find ways to support the factors which enable coping and healing of at-risk populations.