Mental Health Leadership
Mental Health & Psychosocial Support
International Medical Corps plays a leading role in informing, responding to and coordinating mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programming in emergencies.
We contribute to the development of global guidelines and national policies for improving mental health and well-being among affected populations. We stress the importance of including MHPSS in relief and development programs, and regularly engage at global and national-level meetings with governments, international organizations, policymakers and donors.
In addition to co-authoring peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on MHPSS in humanitarian settings, International Medical Corps has been a contributor to and peer reviewer of global MHPSS guidelines and manuals. We have considerable expertise in MHPSS coordination, assessments and mapping in emergency conditions. Since 2007, we have co-taught the annual Mental Health in Complex Emergencies courses organized by Fordham University, in collaboration with UNHCR, Culture for Change and Center for International Humanitarian Cooperation.
Our Response
International Medical Corps builds local capacity that is sustainable and provides comprehensive, integrated and community-based mental health services and psychosocial support activities that promote the resilience and overall well-being of refugees, internally displaced people and host populations. We improve access to and availability of evidence-based, high-quality, culturally sensitive mental health services and psychosocial support for populations affected by conflict and crisis.
In line with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines on MHPSS in emergency settings and the IASC MHPSS Minimum Service Package, we contribute to and establish coordination mechanisms to promote best practices, information sharing and joint planning. We have partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to pilot scalable psychological interventions, and participate in the development of WHO guidelines, including those on mental health for general health professionals (mhGAP-IG and HIG). We also provide recommendations to ministries of health about how to integrate MHPSS in emergencies.
Highlights & Resources
We participate in global coordination initiatives, such as the Interagency Standing Committee MHPSS Reference Group and related thematic groups. We participate in the Child and Family Thematic Group, as well as groups on substance use in humanitarian settings (we are piloting new training materials in Somalia and South Sudan), mapping and assessment, engaging men and boys, and fostering community-based MHPSS. We also have co-chaired a group and created a guidance note on addressing suicide in humanitarian settings.
We developed 16 MHPSS standards to support our program quality and accountability.
We celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day every September 10 and World Mental Health Day every October 10, organizing community advocacy events.