Addressing culture and context in humanitarian response: preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial support
Abstract Delivery of effective mental health and psychosocial support programs requires knowledge of existing health systems and socio-cultural context. To respond rapidly to humanitarian emergencies, international organizations often seek to design programs according to international guidelines and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-11-01
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| Series: | Conflict and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13031-017-0123-z |
| _version_ | 1811281252159848448 |
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| author | M. Claire Greene Mark J. D. Jordans Brandon A. Kohrt Peter Ventevogel Laurence J. Kirmayer Ghayda Hassan Anna Chiumento Mark van Ommeren Wietse A. Tol |
| author_facet | M. Claire Greene Mark J. D. Jordans Brandon A. Kohrt Peter Ventevogel Laurence J. Kirmayer Ghayda Hassan Anna Chiumento Mark van Ommeren Wietse A. Tol |
| author_sort | M. Claire Greene |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Delivery of effective mental health and psychosocial support programs requires knowledge of existing health systems and socio-cultural context. To respond rapidly to humanitarian emergencies, international organizations often seek to design programs according to international guidelines and mobilize external human resources to manage and deliver programs. Familiarizing international humanitarian practitioners with local culture and contextualizing programs is essential to minimize risk of harm, maximize benefit, and optimize efficient use of resources. Timely literature reviews on traditional health practices, cultural beliefs and attitudes toward mental health and illness, local health care systems and previous experiences with humanitarian interventions can provide international practitioners with crucial background information to improve their capacity to work efficiently and with maximum benefit. In this paper, we draw on experience implementing desk review guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency (2012) in four diverse humanitarian crises (earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal; forced displacement among Syrians and Congolese). We discuss critical parameters for the design and implementation of desk reviews, and discuss current challenges and future directions to improve mental health care and psychosocial support in humanitarian emergencies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:29:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ded30b0e74d94c88bda231c234079b54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-1505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:29:04Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conflict and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ded30b0e74d94c88bda231c234079b542022-12-22T03:08:33ZengBMCConflict and Health1752-15052017-11-0111111010.1186/s13031-017-0123-zAddressing culture and context in humanitarian response: preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial supportM. Claire Greene0Mark J. D. Jordans1Brandon A. Kohrt2Peter Ventevogel3Laurence J. Kirmayer4Ghayda Hassan5Anna Chiumento6Mark van Ommeren7Wietse A. Tol8Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthResearch & Development Department, War Child HollandDuke Global Health Institute, Duke UniversityPublic Health Section, United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesDivision of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Université du Québec à MontréalInstitute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of LiverpoolDepartment of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health OrganizationDepartment of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthAbstract Delivery of effective mental health and psychosocial support programs requires knowledge of existing health systems and socio-cultural context. To respond rapidly to humanitarian emergencies, international organizations often seek to design programs according to international guidelines and mobilize external human resources to manage and deliver programs. Familiarizing international humanitarian practitioners with local culture and contextualizing programs is essential to minimize risk of harm, maximize benefit, and optimize efficient use of resources. Timely literature reviews on traditional health practices, cultural beliefs and attitudes toward mental health and illness, local health care systems and previous experiences with humanitarian interventions can provide international practitioners with crucial background information to improve their capacity to work efficiently and with maximum benefit. In this paper, we draw on experience implementing desk review guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency (2012) in four diverse humanitarian crises (earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal; forced displacement among Syrians and Congolese). We discuss critical parameters for the design and implementation of desk reviews, and discuss current challenges and future directions to improve mental health care and psychosocial support in humanitarian emergencies.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13031-017-0123-zMental healthPsychosocialHumanitarianEmergencyCultureContext |
| spellingShingle | M. Claire Greene Mark J. D. Jordans Brandon A. Kohrt Peter Ventevogel Laurence J. Kirmayer Ghayda Hassan Anna Chiumento Mark van Ommeren Wietse A. Tol Addressing culture and context in humanitarian response: preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial support Conflict and Health Mental health Psychosocial Humanitarian Emergency Culture Context |
| title | Addressing culture and context in humanitarian response: preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial support |
| title_full | Addressing culture and context in humanitarian response: preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial support |
| title_fullStr | Addressing culture and context in humanitarian response: preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial support |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing culture and context in humanitarian response: preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial support |
| title_short | Addressing culture and context in humanitarian response: preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial support |
| title_sort | addressing culture and context in humanitarian response preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial support |
| topic | Mental health Psychosocial Humanitarian Emergency Culture Context |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13031-017-0123-z |
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