This guidance is intended to help Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) National Societies in building long-term Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programming that serves the most vulnerable people in the communities and those affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, and other emergencies. It demonstrates the continuous efforts to implement the commitments made under the 2019 Council of Delegates Resolution and Resolution 2 of the 33rd International Conference: Addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies and how the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Policy on Addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs (Movement MHPSS Policy) is being operationalised.
In 2020, a Roadmap for implementation was developed to support a strategic and coordinated approach to implementing these commitments to strengthen the Movement’s collective response to MHPSS needs. The MHPSS Roadmap project (2020-2024)5 has united the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement around a shared strategy to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support globally. Through five priority action areas, it has advanced integration of MHPSS across sectors, improved support for staff and volunteers, built evidence of impact, and mobilized resources and advocacy to make mental health a core humanitarian priority. Thus, laying a strong foundation for continuous MHPSS programming strengthens the Movement’s capacity to better respond to emergencies.
The present guidance captures insights from a three-year collaboration between the IFRC Regional Office for Europe (RoE), 28 National Societies and the RCRC Movement MHPSS Hub (MHPSS Hub), through the project Provision of quality and timely psychological first aid to people affected by the international armed conflict in Ukraine in impacted countries (2022–2025), funded by the European Commission under the EU4Health programme. It captures lessons learned, practical approaches, and shared experiences in strengthening MHPSS systems for longer-term sustainable programming, being rooted in the outputs of the mentioned above Movement-wide efforts, such as MHPSS Roadmap project.
