Addressing the Mental Health Burden In and After Crises

While humanitarian emergencies require a short-term response focused on saving lives and reducing acute suffering, they can have devastating, long-term effects on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of those who survive. WHO reports that one in five individuals suffered from mental disorders post-conflict in 2022. In addition, a lack of addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) needs can lead to difficulties in accessing, delivering, and receiving humanitarian assistance.

The mental health impact of humanitarian crises can affect not only the recovery of individuals, but also of societies and countries by undermining human rights, peace, and development. Therefore, MHPSS interventions are crucial during and beyond the emergency response. To protect and improve the mental health and wellbeing of populations affected by humanitarian crises, the provision of low-threshold support and clinical care needs to be coordinated in challenging settings and between a variety of actors.

Looking beyond the acute crisis, more widely available MHPSS services and investments in more sustainable mental health systems can build upon the immediate emergency response. This includes decentralising structures through the integration of MHPSS into primary and secondary care facilities, community centres, and schools. Learning from humanitarian best practices can enable better resilience and preparedness.

This high-level panel will bring together affected individuals, humanitarian and development workers, researchers, and policy makers to discuss mental health needs in the context of humanitarian health, exchange cross-country experiences, and explore which support and systemic changes are required to meet mental health needs and “see the unseen”.