Photo by RCRC Movement MHPSS Hub: launch reception at IC34 in Geneva 2024 featuring from the left: Anders Ladekarl, Secretary General DRC; Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General IFRC & Pierre Krähenbühl, Director-General ICRC.
Effective January 1, 2025, the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support evolved into the RCRC Movement MHPSS Hub. This transformation builds on the Reference Centre’s 30 years of experience, the expertise of the ICRC, and the contributions of National Societies working on MHPSS.
The Hub will support the RCRC Movement by providing mental health, psychosocial support, and capacity-strengthening initiatives. Hosted by the Danish Red Cross (DRC), the Hub is a collaborative partnership involving the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the DRC.
This is indeed a historical moment for us and hopefully for the Movement. For the first time one Movement Hub will rely on, support and represent ICRC, IFRC and National Societies across the five regions.
In 2019 the RCRC Movement adopted a joint policy and a resolution on addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies. A Roadmap (2020–2023) was developed to support a strategic and coordinated approach to implementing these commitments to strengthen the Movement’s collective response to mental health and psychosocial needs.
Looking back, we can celebrate three decades of efforts to place mental health and psychosocial support on the organizational map of the Movement – today MHPSS is an integral part of Red Cross Red Crescent strategies and operations. Looking ahead we can build from this common platform and the broad representation of the new Movement Hub and develop and implement new strategies and tools enhancing the mental wellbeing of Red Cross staff and volunteers and the people we assist.
New Steering Committee for the RCRC Movement MHPSS Hub
The nomination process for the Steering Committee was completed in mid-October 2024, with representatives selected from National Societies that expressed interest, alongside members from the founding entities: Danish Red Cross, ICRC, and IFRC. The National Societies represented on the new SC include Australia, Kenya, Mexico, Sweden, and Syria.
The SC will begin its work in January 2025, with its inaugural meeting planned for late February 2025. The new Advisory Group will be appointed by the Steering Committee later in 2025.
RCRC Movement MHPSS Hub website
For more information visit the organizational website
