Training on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Emergencies

Module 1: Foundations of MHPSS in Emergencies

• Defining MHPSS: mental health and psychosocial support.

• The impact of emergencies on mental health and psychosocial well-being.

• Key frameworks: IASC MHPSS guidelines and the intervention pyramid.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Analyze the MHPSS impact of a natural disaster on a community, identifying different levels of distress and existing coping mechanisms.

Module 2: The IASC MHPSS Intervention Pyramid

• Layer 1: Social and basic services and security.

• Layer 2: Community and family support.

• Layer 3: Focused, non-specialized support.

• Layer 4: Specialized mental health services.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Map existing and needed MHPSS interventions for a refugee camp onto the IASC pyramid, identifying gaps at each layer.

Module 3: MHPSS Assessment and Monitoring

• Assessment tools: rapid MHPSS assessments, KAP surveys, and participatory approaches.

• Identifying vulnerable groups and specific MHPSS needs.

• Monitoring MHPSS interventions: process and outcome indicators.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Design an MHPSS rapid assessment plan for a newly displaced population, including methods, questions, and ethical considerations.

Module 4: Psychological First Aid (PFA)

• Principles of PFA: prepare, look, listen, and link.

• Who needs PFA and who does not.

• Training frontline staff in PFA.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Role-play providing PFA to a distressed survivor of a disaster, practicing active listening, needs assessment, and appropriate referral.

Module 5: Community-Based Psychosocial Support

• Mobilizing community structures for psychosocial support.

• Activities: child-friendly spaces, women's groups, youth activities, and community conversations.

• Facilitating community-led support and resilience building.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Design a community-based psychosocial support program for a displacement camp, including activities for children, adolescents, and adults.

Module 6: Focused Non-Specialized Support

• Problem Management Plus (PM+) and other low-intensity psychological interventions.

• Group-based interventions for common mental health conditions.

• Training non-specialist workers to deliver focused support.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Develop a referral pathway from community-based support to focused non-specialized interventions for individuals with moderate distress.

Module 7: Specialized Mental Health Services

• Integrating mental health into primary health care.

• Managing severe mental health conditions in humanitarian settings.

• Psychiatric medications, psychosocial support, and follow-up.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Design a mental health integration plan for a primary health clinic in a camp setting, including staffing, training, and referral pathways.

Module 8: MHPSS for Specific Groups

• Children and adolescents: psychosocial support, child-friendly spaces, and schools.

• Older persons and persons with disabilities: accessibility and tailored support.

• Survivors of violence and torture: trauma-informed care.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Design an MHPSS program specifically for unaccompanied and separated children in a displacement setting.

Module 9: MHPSS for Humanitarian Staff

• The impact of humanitarian work on staff mental health.

• Staff care programs: stress management, peer support, and access to mental health services.

• Managing critical incidents and post-incident support.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Develop a staff care plan for a humanitarian team operating in a high-stress environment, including prevention and response strategies.

Module 10: MHPSS Coordination and Advocacy

• The MHPSS Working Group and coordination with health, protection, and education clusters.

• Minimum service package for MHPSS in emergencies.

• Advocacy for MHPSS integration and funding.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Simulate an MHPSS coordination meeting, identifying gaps, sharing resources, and developing joint advocacy messages.