Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Humanitarian Response

Question 1

What is the mental health situation in the conflict-affected areas?

Answer 1

High prevalence of mental
health and psychosocial
problems in humanitarian
settings
• Psychological distress
• Common and severe mental
disorders
• People with existing conditions
• institutions
• Social determinants

Question 2

Why medicalisation is controversial?

Answer 2

PTSD
• Focus on mental disorders, vs ongoing
stressors / social determinants.

Access to care (and medication) is a
problem
• Breakdown of health and care systems
• Need to screen and treat is recognised

Question 3

What are 4 mhpss inclusions?

Answer 3

1. Ensure people with psychosocial
   disabilities are identified and have their
   needs assessed
   • They are often hidden and hard to find
   • Often not included in information systems
2. Reduce barriers to access services
   • Take a person centred approach in
   programme design
   • Ensure good cross-sectoral liaison (across
   clusters)

3. Participation and resilience
• Ensure communications are accessible
• Strengthen capacities of people with
psychosocial disabilities to promote
recovery and agency
• Ensure participation of people with
psychosocial disabilities in response
activities
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Building Back Better