Making Mental Health a Global Priority 

WFMH DISASTER RESPONSE INITIATIVE
	WFMH INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT WFMH SEEKS TO SUPPORT MEMBER ORGANIZATION SEVAC PROJECT DESCRIPTION NEW GUIDELINES TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES WFMH “REMEMBER THE CHILDREN” FUND   USEFUL LINKS
	WFMH INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT IN EMERGENCY SETTINGS AUGUST 28-29, 2008 Franklin Wilson Building King’s College London Waterloo Campus London, England, United Kingdom The Focus of this Forum The WFMH Disaster Response Initiative announces the convening of an International Forum on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, in London, England. August 28 – 29, 2008. The focus of the Forum will be to promote broader adoption and use of the IASC’s Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, published in 2007. The Forum program is designed to address a number of issues relating to the need for greater collaboration and coordination among humanitarian relief organizations and grassroots mental health organizations in responding to the mental health and psychosocial support needs of people and communities affected by major natural and manmade disasters and emergency situations. Who Should Attend All individuals and organizations interested in mental health response to disaster and emergency situations are welcome to participate in this Forum - especially organizations that deliver humanitarian care during disaster and emergency situations and grassroots mental health non-governmental organizations that often are faced with providing ongoing mental health services following disasters in their communities or regions. Professionals from various disciplines who wish to contribute to the science and organization of mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) and/or who have had experience in the problems and issues of delivery of MHPSS will attend the Forum. FORUM ANNOUNCEMENT AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION TOP
	A REPORT FROM BANGLADESH -- December 31, 2007 “I have just returned from Bangdalesh. The situation remains unspeakably deplorable. Thousands of people have lost everything… For instance, we refer to the situation of the South Daudkhali village of the Bagerhat District. There were 612 houses in this village. The cyclone destroyed all these houses. From this small village alone, a total of 307 people died…..It is really unfortunate that, even as of now, no temporary shelters have been constructed there, and as a consequence thousands of people including children, the aged and the sick have been living in poly-thin covered shanties under the open sky in this winter season. We see similar calamities in the other villages and districts that were hit by waves reported to have been as much as 25 feet high. SEVAC’s team has developed a collaboration with a Bangladesh national NGO – UDDIPAN – that has been extending service to the cyclone survivors with unquestionable dedication. We have been holding ‘train the trainer’ programs to enable the relief workers of UDDIPAN to extend basic psychosocial support to some of the residents. Our psychiatrist and psychologist have also been visiting the affected areas along with the UDDIPAN workers and identifying those who need psychiatric or psychological support. We are very eager to continue our work uninterrupted in Bangladesh as the challenge is enormous and the need for psychosocial support is omnipresent. Regrettably, unless we are able to secure funding to continue this much needed work, it is unlikely that SEVAC can sustain its efforts to support the UDDIPAN relief workers or continue its clinics in the affected areas much longer.” Dr. Tapas Ray Founder Secretary & Chief Functionary SEVAC Mental Health and Human Rights Resource Centre Kolkata, INDIA TOP	WFMH SEEKS TO SUPPORT MEMBER ORGANIZATION SEVAC RESPONSE TO BANGLADESH CYCLONE DISASTER AFTERMATH by Preston J. Garrison SEVAC – a grassroots mental health WFMH Voting Members Organization based in Kalkota, India – gained attention and great respect with its rapid and committed response to the aftermath of the December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami by mounting an effort to provide mental health support services to the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands – an isolated group of islands in the Bay of Bengal that comprise a Federally Administered District. Now, in the aftermath of the 17 November 2007 Cyclone Sidr that swept across the low lying watery edges of southern Bangladesh packing winds in excess of 100 miles/hour, SEVAC is undertaking work to provide training to local relief workers to enhance their capacity to extend psychosocial support to survivors in five southwestern districts of the country. SEVAC is also exploring the possibility of organizing and operating clinics to extend psychiatric and psychological support to people in the region that need them along the same model that approved effective in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. WFMH is issuing a critical and immediate appeal to its members and to the concerned public to garner financial resources that it can utilize to assist SEVAC in these efforts. From all reports, the situation in southwestern Bangladesh remains extremely difficult for victims of the cyclone – and for the grassroots organizations trying to provide basic assistance. Resources for mental health services and support efforts are extremely sparse. We encourage your financial donations that will help us to support SEVAC’s efforts to bring relief to the victims of this major disaster situation. PLEASE SEND YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS (MARKED “WFMH DISASTER RESPONSE FUND”) TO: WFMH – 6564 Loisdale Court, Suite 301, Springfield VA 22150-1812 USA (WFMH accepts VISA and MasterCard contributions). For further information, contact Preston J. Garrison at WFMH pgarrison@wfmh.com, or at +1-703-313-8680, Ext. 203.
	WFMH DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT RESPONSE INITIATIVE: Project description In the aftermath of major natural disasters occurring at the end of 2004, including the floods and mudslides claiming thousands of lives in The Philippines, and the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis resulting in over 160,000 deaths and leaving millions homeless and exposed to trauma and disease, as well as the ongoing war-related disasters in Sudan and other parts of Africa, the WFMH board of directors has authorized the establishment of a formal “WFMH Disaster Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Response Initiative” through which the Federation can address current and future disaster-related mental health emergencies. This initiative will have as its primary objectives: Developing the organization’s capacity to become informed about the mental health consequences of natural and manmade disasters Informing and educating grassroots mental health NGOs – particularly WFMH Member Organizations – about how to appropriately respond to the mental health consequences of disasters in their countries, and Providing both material and financial support to mental health NGOs undertaking appropriate and effective service responses to disaster situations at the grassroots level. A key element of this initiative is this dedicated website through which up-to-date, evidence-based disaster response information, awareness and education materials will be disseminated on an on-going basis and which will provide easily-accessible links to organizations specializing in trauma and disaster research, education and program development. The website will also be utilized to cultivate contributions to be dedicated to supporting small grants to mental health NGOs providing mental health disaster response services at the grassroots level. TOP
	WFMH DISASTER RESPONSE INITIATIVE “REMEMBER THE CHILDREN FUND” APPEAL SEEKS SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CONFLICTS ON CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS Whenever disasters and conflicts occur throughout the world, one of the primary messages from the World Federation for Mental Health has always been “In time of conflict, don’t forgot the children!” WFMH’s 2002 World Mental Health Day campaign focused on “The Impact of Trauma and Violence on Children and Adolescents.” The key messages from that campaign remain central in this time of political and military conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and other parts of the world. As the 2002 WMHDay campaign pointed out: We must all work to prevent violence and trauma from occurring in the first place, and We must intervene quickly and effectively when children are exposed to violence and trauma. Because violence and trauma result from a multitude of factors, collaboration across various sectors of society is essential. Key collaborative strategies include: Educating families and the community Providing effective information and interventions United internationally to prevent violence and trauma. During recent months, WFMH’s Disaster Response Initiative has been in contact with WFMH’s colleagues and member organizations around the world discussing possible approaches to expanding capacity to respond the mental health consequences for young people of continuing and future national and regional conflict situations. As a result of those consultations, the Disaster Response Initiative is undertaking this appeal for contributions to provide a limited number of small grants to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) located in countries where political and military conflicts take place to support awareness and prevention intervention strategies. IN ORDER TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE SUPPORT AND INFORMATION ACTIVITIES, WFMH ANNOUNCES THIS APPEAL FOR DONATIONS TO THE WFMH DISASTER RESPONSE FUND FOR THE “IN TIMES OF CONFLICT, REMEMBER THE CHILDREN FUND.” Any funds granted to NGOs through the WFMH Disaster Response “Remember the Children Fund” appeal will be utilized to support preventive mental health interventions for children, adolescents, and their families and for relief and rescue workers, and for the dissemination of basic information on mental health awareness and referral. Any such funds granted will have to be used by recognized grassroots mental health non-governmental organizations located and operating in the affected area. Mental health NGOs located in any country where a political, military conflict, or civil war is taking place will be eligible to apply for funds that may be available through the WFMH Disaster Response Initiative. Preference for awarding grants will be given to WFMH Voting or Affiliate Member Organizations in affected countries. Small grants from the “Remember the Children Fund” will not restricted to any single organization, country or region. The WFMH Disaster Response Initiative will evaluate individual applications and requests for support from NGOs, taking into consideration the activities proposed to be provided, the capacity of the organization to successfully deliver the proposed services, and the availability of funds. CLICK ON “SUPPORT WFMH” IN THE SIDEBAR MENU TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE “IN TIMES OF CONFLICT, REMEMBER THE CHILDREN FUND.” TOP
	NEW GUIDELINES TO IMPROVE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE IN EMERGENCIES RELEASED Geneva, 14 September 2007 - International humanitarian agencies have agreed on a new set of guidelines to address the mental health and psychosocial needs of survivors as part of the response to conflict or disaster. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (lASC) Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings clearly state that protecting and promoting mental health and psychosocial well-being is the responsibility of all humanitarian agencies and workers. Until now, many people involved in emergency response have viewed mental health and psychosocial well-being as the sole responsibility of psychiatrists and psychologists. "These new IASC guidelines are a significant step towards providing better care and support to people in disaster- and conflict-affected areas worldwide," said Dr Ala Alwan, Assistant Director-General for Health Action in Crises at the World Health Organization. Recent conflicts and natural disasters in Afghanistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Sudan among many others involve substantial psychological and social suffering in the short term, which if not adequately addressed can lead to long-term mental health and psychosocial problems. These can threaten peace, people's human rights and development. "Yet, when communities and services provide protection and support, most individuals have been shown to be remarkably resilient. While this is increasingly recognised, many actors identified the need for a coherent, systematic approach that can be applied in large emergencies. The guidelines address this gap. The guidelines have been published by the IASC, a committee that is responsible for world¬wide humanitarian policy and consists of heads of relevant UN and other intergovernmental agencies, Red Cross and Red Crescent agencies, and NGO consortia. The guidelines have been developed by staff from 27 agencies through a highly participatory process. "Drafting the guidelines has been a joint effort of a broad range of key actors in the diverse sectors of humanitarian aid and we are happy to see the synergy and commitment," said Mr Jim Bishop, Vice President for Humanitarian Policy and Practice of InterAction, the consortium of US-based international NGOs. The guidelines layout the essential first steps in protecting or promoting people's mental health and psychosocial well-being in the midst of emergencies. They identify useful practices and flag potentially harmful ones, and clarify how different approaches complement one another. "The new guidelines present a major step forward to much better protect the mental health and psychosocial well-being of displaced persons using an integrated approach in collaboration with all partners" said Ms Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Deputy Director, Division for International Protection Services at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees. The guidelines have a clear focus on social interventions and supports. They emphasize the importance of building on local resources such as teachers, health workers, healers, and women's groups to promote psychosocial well-being. They focus on strengthening social networks and building on existing ways community members deal with distress in their lives. The guidelines include attention to protection and care of people with severe mental disorders, including severe trauma-induced disorders, as well as access to psychological first aid for those in acute distress. The guidelines stress that the way in which humanitarian aid is provided can have a substantial impact on people's mental health and psychosocial well-being. Treating survivors with dignity and enabling them to participate in and organize emergency support is essential. Coordination of mental health and psychosocial support is difficult in large emergencies involving numerous agencies. Affected populations can be overwhelmed by outsiders, and local contributions to mental health and psychosocial support are easily marginalised or undermined. Dr. Bruce Eshaya-Chauvin, Head of the Health and Care Department at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, remarked: "Achieving improved psychosocial support for populations affected by crises requires coordinated action among all government and non-government and humanitarian actors. These guidelines give sensible advice on how to achieve that." "These guidelines now need to be transferred from paper into concrete action at the field level so that those affected by disasters and conflict will benefit from the work done on them. NGOs can playa major role in this regard." said Ms Mqnisha Thomas, acting Coordinator of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies. These guidelines will be available in different languages and can be obtained from the IASC website http://www.humanitarianinfo.org TOP
	USEFUL LINKS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION www.who.int U. S. FREEDOM CORPS www.freedomcorps.gov AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR POSTTRAUMATIC MENTAL HEALTH www.ncptsd.unimelb.edu.au INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS www.icrc.org INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR TRAUMATIC STRESS STUDIES www.istss.org UNICEF HEADQUARTERS www.unicef.org LIFELINE INTERNATIONAL www.lifeline.web.za MANUAL FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE FOR CHILDREN AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS Click here to read the manual TOP
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