By applying a psychosocial approach CARE Österreich wants to ensure that humanitarian and development actions embody a holistic understanding of wellbeing of individuals and communities so that programme’s appropriateness, impact and sustainability will increase. Psychologically safe persons are more likely to be able to connect to other people, develop joint solutions to problems and work for the common good and sustainable development.
Women and girls, due to centuries of discrimination, are more likely to suffer from reduced psychosocial wellbeing, which increases their vulnerability to poverty. Many girls and women are hindered by gender stereotypes that prescribe that women have to submit themselves to men and by reduced self esteem and confidence to participate in development programmes or engage in social change and politics.
Additionally gender based violence mainly affects women and girls. Gender based violence, especially sexual violence, erodes women’s and girls’ self esteem and is most destructive for women’s and girls’ health and wellbeing. Psychosocial interventions that strengthen women’s and girls’ resilience and prevent and address GBV are a fundamental part of CARE Österreich’s women’s empowerment programming.
IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
In December 2007 the IASC Working Group established the IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. This reference group is tasked to follow up on the implementation of the Guidelines elaborated by the 2005-2007 IASC Task Force on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.
IASC - Psychosocial Support
Mental Health and Psychosocial Network
Initiative of the MHPSS Network focussed on serving the wide range of people working in the field of mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies and other situations of extreme stress across the world.
www.psychosocialnetwork.net
Psychosocial Working Group (PWG)
The PWG was established in 2000 with the support of grants from the Andrew Mellon Foundation as a collaboration between academic institutions and humanitarian agencies committed to the development of knowledge and best practice in the field of psychosocial interventions in complex emergencies.
www.forcedmigration.org/psychosocial/PWGinfo.htm
IFRC – Federation Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support
http://psp.drk.dk/
WHO - Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies
The target group for WHO work on mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies is any population exposed to extreme stressors, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, disaster survivors and terrorism-, war- or genocide-exposed populations. The Department’s work on mental health in emergencies focuses mostly on resource-poor countries, where most populations exposed to natural disasters and war live.
www.who.int/mental_health/emergencies/en
