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GUIDELINES ON MENTAL HEALTH &

PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT IN EMERGENCIES

Prof Fareed Aslam Minhas

Head Institute of Psychiatry


National Programme Manager for WHO Collaborative Programme
Long-term impact: Size of the Problem:
Summary Table of Generic WHO Projections
BEFORE DISASTER: AFTER DISASTER:
12-month prevalence 12-month prevalence
Severe disorder 2-3% 3-4%
(e.g., psychosis, severe
depression, severely disabling
form of anxiety disorder)
Mild or moderate mental 10% 15%-20%
disorder
(e.g., mild and moderate forms of
depression and anxiety disorders)

Moderate or severe No estimate Large percentage


psychological / social distress
(no disorder)

None or mild psychological / No estimate Small percentage


social distress, which may
resolve over time
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in
Emergency Settings
Diverse Needs in Midst of Emergencies
• Pre-existing social problems
– e.g. marginalization

• Emergency-induced social problems


– e.g. family separations, loss of income, protection threats

• Pre-existing psychological/psychiatric problems


– e.g. psychosis, severe alcohol use, depression

• Emergency-induced psychological/psychiatric problems


– e.g. normal fear (past, present, future), depression, PTSD

• Humanitarian aid-induced problems


– e.g. conflict between communities, anxiety about
lack of information on distributions,
Planning Tool: IASC Guidelines
"A significant gap has been
the absence of a multi-
sectoral, inter-agency
framework that enables
coordination, identifies
useful practices, flags
harmful practices and
clarifies how different
approaches to mental health
and psychosocial support
complement one another."
Some typical answers to this problem are

Inter-agency guidelines are needed but


– Should be culturally sensitive/adaptable
– Should take local situation, capacities and
resources into account
– Should cover/not cover/ go beyond posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD)
– Should cover staff welfare
– Should give advice on how to avoid harmful
interventions and 'parachuting' foreign clinicians
– Should discuss coordination
Core Principles
• Human rights and equity
• Participation
• Do No Harm
• Building on available
resources and capacities
• Integrated support systems
• Multi-layered supports
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

(a) protecting or promoting psychosocial well-


being

and/or
PSMH

(b) preventing or treating mental disorder.


Matrix of Mental Health and Psychosocial
Support: All Have Impact on Protecting Well-being
1. Coordination
2. Assessment, monitoring and evaluation
3. Protection and human rights standards
4. Human resources
5. Community mobilisation and support
6. Health services
7. Education
8. Dissemination of information
9. Food security and nutrition
10.Shelter and site planning
11.Water and sanitation
Intervention pyramid
Mental health care by
specialized mental health staff
(psychiatric nurse, psychologist
etc) Specialised
Supports by traditional healers Services

Basic mental health care by


PHC workers
Basic counselling by
Focused (person-to-person)
community workers
non-specialised supports
Psychological first aid

Supportive child-friendly
spaces
Community
Activating social networks and
Raising family and
community supports
family
(e.g. through groups) supports
Communal traditional
supports

Advocacy for basic


services that are safe, Basic services and security
Social considerations in basic
socially appropriate
services and security
and protect dignity
Thank you

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