Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for Health EDRM
Mental health is a basic human right and is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life and live well. Mental health conditions include mental disorders, psychosocial disabilities and stress related disorders distress, and people with mental health conditions are more likely to experience lower levels of mental well-being [1].
Exposure to disaster-related traumas, together with the cascading impacts of displacement, bereavement, and resource loss, have potential to cause significant psychological distress and increase the risk of mental health conditions among affected populations [2-5]. WHO reported that one in five conflict-affected people is likely to develop mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [6]. Every individual will experience the same event in a different way and have different resources and capacities to cope, but some may go on to develop mental health conditions In reaction to these stressful situations [2]. Especially, those with pre-existing mental health conditions may experience a worsening of their condition and are at risk of neglect, abandonment, abuse and lack of access to support.
Hence, early and effective mental health and psychosocial support interventions are increasingly recognised as vital for health emergency and disaster risk management (Health EDRM). This is because timely Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) can reduce these risks and promote recovery and resilience, particularly if systems and services are in place and prepared to respond before, during and after an emergency strikes [7-9].
MHPSS is a term used to describe “any type of local or outside support that aims to protect or promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental health condition” [10]. This section shares available knowledge, evidence and information on four components based on WKC funded research projects (2022-23 project, 2020-21 project, 2016-17 project).
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References
[1] WHO. (2022). Mental Health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strength…;
[2] WHO. (2022). Mental health in emergencies. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-in-emerg…
[3] Makwana N. (2019). Disaster and its impact on mental health: A narrative review. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 8(10), 3090–3095. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_893_19
[4] Beaglehole B, Mulder RT, Frampton CM, Boden JM, Newton-Howes G, Bell CJ. Psychological distress and psychiatric disorder after natural disasters: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry. 2018 Dec;213(6):716-722. doi: 10.1192/bjp.2018.210. Epub 2018 Oct 10. PMID: 30301477.
[5] Newnham EA, Mergelsberg E, Chen Y, Kim Y, Gibbs L, Dzidic P, Ishida DaSilva M, Chan EYY, Shimomura K, Narita Z, Huang Z, Leaning J. Long term mental health trajectories after disasters and pandemics: A multilingual systematic review of prevalence, risk and protective factors. Clinical Psychology Review. Vol. 97. 2022. 102203. ISSN 0272-7358, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102203
[6] Charlson, F., Ommeren, M. van, Flazman, A., Cornett, J., Whiteford, H., & Saxena, S. (2019) New WHO prevalence estimates of mental disorders in conflict settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet, 394(10194), 240-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30934-1
[7] Généreux, M., Schluter, P. J., Takahashi, S., Usami, S., Mashino, S., Kayano, R., & Kim, Y. (2019). Psychosocial Management Before, During, and After Emergencies and Disasters—Results from the Kobe Expert Meeting. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(8), Art. 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081309
[8] Kayano, R., Chan, E. Y., Murray, V., Abrahams, J., & Barber, S. L. (2019). WHO Thematic Platform for Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Research Network (TPRN): Report of the Kobe Expert Meeting. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(7), Art. 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071232
[9] 2019 CGM report: WHO Thematic Platform for Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Research Network 8irst Core Group Meeting - Building a WHO Health EDRM Research Agenda - VIEW / DOWNLOAD
[10] Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), (2007) IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, 2007. https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-task-force-mental-health-… [accessed 15 June 2023]
