WHO MENTAL HEALTH IN EMERGENCIES – People living through humanitarian emergencies are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems.
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Ensuring a coordinated and effective mental health response in emergencies

Emergency situations such as armed conflicts, natural disasters and other humanitarian crises exacerbate the risk of mental health conditions. Nearly all people affected by these emergencies will experience psychological distress, with one in five likely to have a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. These risks are heightened in older people and marginalized groups. Stressful events such as violence and loss, as well as poverty, discrimination, overcrowding, and food and resource insecurity, are common in emergencies and can increase the risk of developing mental health conditions. People with severe mental disorders are particularly vulnerable. 

However, while emergencies have a detrimental effect on mental health, they have also been shown to provide opportunities to build sustainable mental health care systems in the period following the event. 

WHO works around the world to ensure that the humanitarian mental health response is both coordinated and effective. We work with our many partner organizations to provide guidelines, intervention manuals, policy directions and other tools to support the emergency response for mental health. WHO also co-chairs the IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, which provides advice and support to organizations working in emergency settings.

 

 

Publications

mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG) training of health-care providers

The mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG) Training of Health-Care Providers manual is designed to guide facilitators in training non-specialist...

Mental Health and COVID-19: Early evidence of the pandemic’s impact: Scientific brief, 2 March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people around the world while also raising concerns of increased suicidal...

BUILDING BACK BETTER: Sustainable mental health care after emergencies

Emergencies, in spite of their tragic nature and adverse effects on mental health, are unparalleled opportunities to build better mental health systems...

Problem management plus (‎‎‎‎‎‎PM+)‎‎‎‎‎‎: individual psychological help for adults impaired by distress in communities exposed to adversity

With this manual, the World Health Organization (WHO) is responding to requests from colleagues around the world who seek guidance on psychological interventions...

Psychological first aid

This manual is designed to orient helpers to offer psychological first aid (PFA) to people following a serious crisis event. PFA involves humane, supportive...

Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers

This guide covers psychological first aid which involves humane, supportive and practical help to fellow human beings suffering serious crisis events....

doing_what_matters_in_time_of_stress

Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide is a stress management guide for coping with adversity. The guide aims to equip people...

mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG)

Adults and children affected by emergencies experience a substantial and diverse range of mental, substance use, and neurological problems.The mhGAP Humanitarian...

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