Home > Briefing note on addressing mental health and psychosocial aspects of COVID-19 Outbreak. Version 1.1.

IASC MHPSS Reference Group. (2020) Briefing note on addressing mental health and psychosocial aspects of COVID-19 Outbreak. Version 1.1. New York: OCHA.

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External website: https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-refe...

The experience of an emergency can significantly impact the mental health and psychosocial well-being of a person. It can have immediate as well as long-term consequences for individuals, families and communities. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Emergency Settings (IASC, 2007) were developed through an inclusive process, with input from UN agencies, NGOs and Universities. The Guidelines help to plan, establish and coordinate a set of minimum multi-sectoral responses to protect, support and improve people’s mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in the midst of an emergency.

This document summarizes key mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) considerations in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak, such as appropriate MHPSS responses, overarching principles and globally recommended activities. More specifically, it contains useful guidance about how to, during the COVID-19 outbreak:
- help older adults cope with stress,
- support the needs of people with disabilities,
- design messages & activities to help children deal with stress,
- set up MHPSS activities for adults in isolation/quarantine,
- provide support to response workers, and
- circulate community MHPSS messages.

[Note: It will be updated regularly during the COVID-19 outbreak.]

See also, IASC Guidelines on mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings, 2007

Related IASC material and tools:

In 2017 the group published A Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for MHPSS in Emergency Settings.

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