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Consultancy Capacity building for mental health services Facilitation of change
within complex healthcare systems
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International NGOs
There is “no health without mental health” and a holistic approach to health is needed in all development and emergency contexts. This can be a challenge to those international aid organisations unsure how to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into planned and existing programmes. See "UK NGOs and Mental Health: An Exploratory Review" and "Psychosocial/mental health programmes in humanitarian contexts: problems, challenges and sharing good practice".
Consultancy would assist organisations to review existing and planned programmes to ensure mental health and psychosocial components were explicitly integrated within all programmes.
The necessary staff training could also be designed and facilitated (see teaching and workshops).
See the following links for recent guidance on the IASC and the IASC Task Force on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings: http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc and http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/mentalhealth_psychosocial_support
WHO (2003) Mental Health in Emergencies (PDF)
For a review of current issues in mental health and psychosocial support in the humanitarian sector, see the articles below: (opens PDF file in new window)
Gilbert, J. (2005) Psychiatrist or Psychosocial Adviser? Confusion, controversy and progress in mental health. The Health Exchange, August, 31-33.
Gilbert, J. (2005) International Responses to the Psychological Aftermath of the Tsunami Disaster: a Plea for Thoughtfulness and Care. Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal, 16(1), 5-6.
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