Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

The impact of conflict and disasters on children’s health – both physical and mental – can be devastating. The psychological consequences of emergencies can be acute in the short term, but they also undermine the long-term mental health and psychosocial well-being of those affected. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and more specifically psychosocial service delivery, represents the largest share in financial allocations in child protection. However, in many Child Protection in Emergency contexts, there are considerable challenges.

The Global Child Protection Area of Responsibility answers the needs for assistance to children through supporting the national coordinators with in-country and remote coordination guidance and through providing adequate technical recourses such as the remote training: "Orientation of frontline workers delivering community based mental health and psychosocial support" (7 video modules, also available in Spanish). The Global CPAoR also ensures that policy frameworks are in line with the needs and signals technical MHPSS gaps to CPAoR partner organizations.

Working with other sectors to enhance outcomes of MHPSS elements of child protection: An introductory guide for child protection practitioners

The Global Child Protection Area of Responsibility, in collaboration with other clusters/sectors, has developed a practical guide on working with other sectors for enhanced outcomes of MHPSS elements of child protection. This guide is aimed at supporting child protection coordination groups to strengthen and maximize inter-sector cooperation and coordination. The guide will also promote more meaningful engagement by child protection and actors from other sectors in coordination mechanisms for MHPSS at the country and field levels.

● English Version: Full document
● French Version: Full document
● Arabic Version: Full document
● Spanish Version: Full document

This guide has been revised by independent specialists and validated by a group of child protection coordinators and sector specialists. Notwithstanding these efforts, we are aware that inaccuracies may arise as a result of information that was unavailable at the time of drafting, as well as useful methods and resources that warrant inclusion. This is therefore intended to be a living document that will be updated and expanded over time. We invite you to contribute to the recommendations and share your suggestions and experiences with us at cp-aor@unicef.org.

NEW REPORT (2023): Assessment of options for humanitarian child protection actors to assist children and adolescents who need specialized mental health services

The Global Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CP AoR), in collaboration with the IASC MHPSS Reference Group, contracted Mott MacDonald to assess options for humanitarian child protection actors to assist children and adolescents needing specialist ('Layer 4') mental health services.  The assessment included case study explorations in five countries to inform learning and recommendations for child protection actors seeking to improve comprehensive MHPSS care for children and their families as part of humanitarian responses. 

The five settings for the case studies included the following: Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazar); Colombia (Cazucá, between Bogotá and Soacha); DRC (Maluku within Tshangu district of Kinshasa); Iraq (Baharka Camp in Kurdistan); and South Sudan (Malualagorbaar, near Bor Town in Jonglei State).  

Read the report and summary here. 

For more information on MHPSS and CP AoR's work on the subject, please click here or contact MHPSS specialist Koen Sevenants (ksevenants@unicef.org).