Introducing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in emergencies

Course information

The course is available in:

Polski - Українська

Overview: This online orientation course aims for strengthening the competencies of health sector actors working in emergencies, to establish, support and scale up Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in countries.

The composite term ‘Mental Health and Psychosocial Support’ (MHPSS) is used in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines for MHPSS in Emergency Settings 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’. The global humanitarian system uses the term MHPSS to unite a broad range of actors responding to emergencies such as the COVID-19 outbreak, including those working with biological approaches and sociocultural approaches in health, social, education and community settings, as well as to underscore the need for diverse, complementary approaches in providing appropriate support. The Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19, released in February 2021, highlighted that mental health and psychosocial support is an integral component in public health emergency response that must be addressed across a range of response pillars, including case management, risk communication and community engagement and the maintenance of safe and accessible essential health services. Despite their tragic nature and adverse effects on mental health, Emergencies are unparalleled opportunities to build better mental health services and psychosocial supports for all people in need.

The primary audience of this course is humanitarian health sector staff seeking to integrate MHPSS into their programmes. This includes WHO Health Emergencies Programme Staff and humanitarian actors from UN agencies, NGOs and Governments. In addition, (other) Professional Officers (e.g. in areas of NCDs, Reproductive Health and HIV) in country offices, humanitarian organizations and Ministries of Health will also benefit from participating in at least some of the training sessions.

Course learning objectives: By the end of the course, participants should:

• identify what actions are priority MHPSS actions in emergencies;
• explain WHO and IASC tools on MHPSS in emergencies;

• apply their understanding of priority MHPSS actions and use to tools to:

  ~ rapidly respond to MHPSS needs in an emergency, by developing a plan of action for all steps from initial assessment to later implementation in a recovery phase,

  ~ explain the requirements of MHPS response to ensure Staff can contract, consult with and monitor the relevant partners, WHO MHPSS staff and consultants to ensure the plan is implemented in a timely and effective way,

  ~ effectively advocate for MHPSS responses in an emergency with all stakeholders to ensure a successful plan,

  ~ provide broad technical support on all the above;

• contribute to the provision of technical advice on critical measures and steps to support the Government, funding agencies, and humanitarian partners in responding in emergencies;

• engage in policy dialogues on MHPSS, and enhance partnerships.

Course duration: Approximately 7 hours.

Certificates: A Record of Achievement certificate will be available to participants who score at least 80% of the total points available across all of the quizzes. Participants who receive a Record of Achievement can also download an Open Badge for this course. Click here to learn how.

Course contents

• Module 1: Overview on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS): definition, guidelines and principles:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: define MHPSS; describe the 9 key actions on mental health from the Sphere Handbook; explain the importance of MHPSS in emergencies.

• Module 2: Coordinating a team with other sectors / clusters providing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS):

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: explain the rationale for MHPSS Coordination; describe where MHPSS fits, including in Public Health Emergencies; outline the Core Functions of MHPSS Coordination; review the rationale for Monitoring and Evaluation of MHPSS activities; describe the IASC Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and explain how the IASC Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework can be used.

• Module 3: Assessing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) needs and resources to guide programming:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: describe why MHPSS assessments are needed; list the key considerations for planning MHPSS assessments and have knowledge of key WHO and IASC MHPSS assessment tools.

• Module 4: Working with community members, including marginalised people, to strengthen community self-help and social support:

  Please note that this module is under construction. As soon as it is published, an email will be sent to you so that you can access it.

• Module 5: Including basic psychosocial support skills in an emergency response or programme:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: describe what basic psychosocial skills are; describe what psychological first aid is and is not; explain who is likely to need psychological first aid and when; describe the action principles of psychological first aid; explain who may need more support than psychological first aid can offer; and describe how psychological first aid and training in basic psychosocial support skills can be included as part of an emergency response and programme.

• Module 6: Developing and implementing a plan for mental health integration into general health care in humanitarian settings:

  By the end of this module, you should will: identify the need of integrating mental health into general health care in humanitarian settings; explain the priority mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) conditions covered in mhGAP-HIG; be familiar with how to work using the mhGAP-HIG manual and mhGAP operations manual; and explain key operational considerations for integration of mental health in general health care in humanitarian settings.

• Module 7: Identifying suitable tools and integrating psychological interventions into health and social sector implementation plans in emergencies:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: understand scalable psychological interventions and why they are important; describe the key aspects of psychological intervention program design and implementation; list key WHO psychological interventions and where they could fit within a stepped care model and describe what you need to consider when adapting psychological interventions for different modes of delivery.

• Module 8: Assessing psychiatric hospitals and residential homes and supporting people with severe mental health conditions:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: describe why it is important to focus on psychiatric hospitals and residential homes in emergencies; list key actions for assessments and for protecting and supporting persons in psychiatric hospitals and residential homes; and have knowledge of key WHO and IASC MHPSS guidance and tools.

• Module 9: Assessment of needs and integrating interventions for the management of conditions related to substance use:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to introduce the tool for rapid assessment of alcohol and other substance use in humanitarian settings; orient participants in screening and brief interventions for alcohol/drug use in humanitarian settings; and to improve knowledge on recognizing and management of acute and emergency conditions (overdose and alcohol withdrawal) related to substance use in humanitarian settings.

• Module 10: Engaging multiple stakeholders to build back better sustainable mental health care following emergencies:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: understand how to contribute to long term mental health systems strengthening during and after each emergency and gain insights from WHO’s experience in building back better.

• Module 11: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) during COVID-19:

  Please note that this module is under construction. As soon as it is published, an email will be sent to you so that you can access it.

• Extra module: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) before, during and after radiological and nuclear emergencies:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: describe how radiological and nuclear emergencies carry substantial and unique stressors; explain how they impact the mental health and psychosocial well-being of those affected; and describe the recommended key actions and considerations to address MHPSS before, during and after radiological and nuclear emergencies.