Since 2020, CARE International UK and the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) at Oxford Brookes University, together with many other research partners and with the support of the Global Shelter Cluster, have been advancing understanding of the connections between humanitarian sheltering and health.
In September 2022, an interactive learning event will build on previous collaborative work in this area and explore how integrated programming can support crisis-affected populations’ physical and mental health and psychosocial well-being. Shelter and Settlements, WASH and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) specialists will explore the opportunities and challenges of integrated programming and share experiences from the field and from policy and coordination perspectives. How to build evidence of the outcomes of integrated programming on well-being is another topic that will be addressed.
Carmen Valle-Trabadelo, Co-Chair IASC RG on MHPSS in Emergency Settings and panelist of this year's online event, will introduce MHPSS and its cross-sectoral nature that connects with both Shelter and WASH.
Previous events in this area were:
- In May 2020, a multi-sectoral learning day facilitated the sharing of knowledge about the connections between housing and health, in order to inform humanitarian action and enhance the well-being of crisis-affected populations. The proceedings of the learning day were published as Towards Healthier Homes in Humanitarian Settings.
- In May 2021, a follow-up learning event, entitled ‘Doing More and Doing Better’, focused on mental health, aiming to uncover the impacts of existing Shelter and Settlements best practice regarding mental health and well-being and to plot a path towards more deliberate and documented beneficial outcomes. The proceedings of this second learning event were published as Mindful Sheltering.
For many participants, the most striking finding was that:
"A person’s mental health and psychosocial well-being is affected as much - or even more - by their living conditions as it is by their experiences of crisis and disaster. Shelter is a determinant of mental health and well-being in all emergencies; inadequate shelter and poor access to water and sanitation facilities are among the ‘daily stressors’ that contribute to mental distress for individuals and communities and are detrimental to early recovery and eventual development." (p7)
Join this online event on 21 September from 10:00 - 13:00 CET
To book a free online place at the learning event go to Eventbrite. Zoom link to follow.
For more information about the event and the developing agenda, visit the Self-recovery website.
Please get in touch if you would like to contribute to the agenda: Webb@careinternational.org