New WHO guidelines aim to improve psychological and social assistance in emergencies

International humanitarian agencies have agreed on a new set of guidelines to address the mental health and psychosocial needs of disaster survivors.

Many people involved in emergency response have viewed mental health and psychosocial well-being as the sole responsibility of psychiatrists and psychologists. However, new guidelines published by the WHO aim to dispel this misunderstanding.

The guidelines ‘Iasc Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings’ have been published by the IASC, a committee that is responsible for world-wide humanitarian policy and consists of heads of relevant UN and other intergovernmental agencies, Red Cross and Red Crescent agencies, and NGO consortia. The guidelines have been developed by staff from 27 agencies through a highly participatory process.

The guidelines lay out the essential first steps in protecting or promoting people's mental health and psychosocial well-being in the midst of emergencies. They identify useful practices and flag potentially harmful ones, and clarify how different approaches complement one another.

Read the document.

•Date: 18th Sept 2007• Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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