IASC Weekly (GVA): Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies
Geneva
Meeting Documents
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies
How Does the Existing Guidance Help Practical Application Across Sectors? The Inter Agency StandingCommittee Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Emergency Settings (IASC, 2007) help to plan, to establish and coordinate a set of minimum multi-sectoral responses to protect and improve people’s mental health and psychosocial well-being in the midst of an emergency. Peter Ventevogel, Senior Mental Health Expert, UNHCR Public health Section, Division of Programme Support and Management Sabine Rakotomalala , SabineRakotomalala, Deputy Coordinator, Child Protection Working Group Margriet Blaauw, Co-chair of theIASC Reference Group on Mental health and Psychosocial Support A recent review conducted by Prof. Piero Calvi Parisetti on behalf of OCHA entitled 'Coordination and Funding of Cross-Cutting Issues in Humanitarian Action' identified Mental Health as a ‘Core Issue’ in Humanitarian Action. At the same time the review mentioned a lack of attention paid to cross cutting issues in humanitarian planning and response, often because they are vaguely defined, misunderstood, and because of a certain “cross-cutting-fatigue”. Four panelists will give brief presentations, followed by a discussion on the applicationof the IASC MHPSS Guidelines in different sectors. Among others, these questions will be discussed: How can the IASC MHPSS Guidelines contribute to an improved quality of Humanitarian Action? How can the Guidelines be integrated in multi-sectoral application in a practical manner?
Panelists
Guglielmo Schinina , Head of mentalhealth, psychosocial response and intercultural communication section, IOM
Focus of the panelists' statements:
Presentation 1: Introduction to multi-sectoral application of the IASC MHPSS Guidelines, Margriet Blaauw: Introduction and overview of the achievements and challenges on the institutionalization and multi-sectoral application of the IASC MHPSS Guidelines since their publication in 2007 Presentation 2: The IOM experienceswith the institutionalization and the multi-sectoral application of the IASC MHPSS Guidelines, Guglielmo Schinina: Practical examples ofIOM trainings in Syria for shelter managers and front line workers and how the guidelines and the Reference Group can have a positive impact the work of the clusters and of processes like CERF and CAP Presentation 3: Inter-sectoral planningand programming, Peter Ventevogel: Presentation on UNHCR’s operational assessments (the joint guidance with WHO with many IASC MHPSS WG tools), practical examples on multi-sectorial coordination including how the 4W’s tool can support inter-sectorial planning and programming Presentation 4: Applying the IASCMHPSS Pyramid in Child Protection programming, Sabine Rakotomalala