IASC Briefing: Operational Support and Policy Guidance for MHPSS Responses
Watch the full recording of the briefing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCd4KuWA8bA
The experience of an emergency can significantly impact the mental health and psychosocial well-being of a person. It can have immediate as well as long-term consequences for individuals, families, and communities. The IASC Mental Health Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) Reference Group was established in December 2007 to support and advocate for the implementation of the Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings. It consists of more than 60 members, and fosters a unique collaboration between NGOs, UN and International Agencies and academics, promoting best practices in MHPSS.
The reference group is actively involved in providing support both at the global and country levels. They undertake countless missions and provide remote support to assist the 60 country-level interagency MHPSS Technical Working Groups, offering technical assistance, training, and capacity-building initiatives. Since 2020, the group has facilitated over 40 interagency MHPSS surge deployments to both acute and protracted emergencies. In response to the needs indicated by humanitarian actors, the group publishes tools related to the IASC, with over 300 translations of key resources and guidelines now available to a wider audience.
The group's most recent publications include the IASC MHPSS Minimum Service Package, an intersectoral package that outlines a set of activities of the highest priority in meeting the needs of emergency-affected populations to ensure a better-coordinated, more predictable and equitable response; and the IASC Guidance note on Addressing Suicide, a practical and concise resource to support humanitarian actors in addressing suicide and self-harm in humanitarian settings. The group also actively participates in global and country-level efforts to mainstream MHPSS in humanitarian response and their work has been invaluable in ensuring that mental health and psychosocial support remain a priority in humanitarian responses.
Anchored in recently published tools and guidance, the aim of this IASC briefing is to provide a forum for practitioners to exchange ideas, innovative approaches and operational considerations for implementing MHPSS. This would include showcasing ongoing efforts, deployments, and best practices in delivering MHPSS services in humanitarian settings.
Speakers
- Dr. Fahmy Hanna, Co-Chair of IASC MHPSS Reference Group, and Technical Officer, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization (WHO)
- Dr. Carmen Valle Trabadelo, Co-Chair of IASC MHPSS Reference Group, and Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
- Dr. Alexandra Marcano, Co-chair of MHPSS technical working group (TWG), Venezuela, and Migration Health Officer, (IOM)
- Dr. Alisa Ladyk-Bryzghalova, Co-Chair of MHPSS TWG, Ukraine and Officer on Mental Health (WHO)
Moderator
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Ms. Tanja Schuemer-Cross, IASC secretariat
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