Inter-agency response to mental health and psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 pandemic

This session is part of the the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks 2021 from April 19 - May 07. Carmen Valle-Trabadelo, Technical Advisor in the Psychosocial Centre and co-chair of the IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, is an organiser and panelist for this event. The event is sponsored by: IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies. This session will provide participants with an overview of tools developed by the IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings to support the COVID-19 response, and how the tools were developed and how they are used in countries such as in Greece, Nigeria and Afghanistan. In the May 2020 update of the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan (Global HRP), Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) was identified as an essential, basic need for all people.  It is a cross-cutting issue that is relevant to all strategic priorities in all sectors of humanitarian response. This session will provide participants with an overview of tools developed by the IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (chaired by WHO and IFRC) to support the COVID-19 response. There were also presentations from co-chairs of two country-level MHPSS Technical Working Groups in humanitarian settings about their experience scaling up support on the ground with these tools. These tools include guidance for organizations on recommended activities to address mental health and psychosocial aspects of the pandemic, a guide on basic psychosocial skills for all COVID-19 responders , a children's story book to help children and families cope with COVID-19 stressors, and more. Event Registration.  More information about this event.