Conflict and Health
Volume 11, Issue 1, 2017

Addressing culture and context in humanitarian response: Preparing desk reviews to inform mental health and psychosocial support (Article) (Open Access)

Greene M.C.* , Jordans M.J.D. , Kohrt B.A. , Ventevogel P. , Kirmayer L.J. , Hassan G. , Chiumento A. , Van Ommeren M. , Tol W.A.
  • a Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway Rm. 888, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
  • b Research and Development Department, War Child Holland, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Center for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
  • c Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States, Department of Psychiatry, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
  • d Public Health Section, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland
  • e Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, Culture and Mental Health Research Unit, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
  • f Department of Psychology, Université du Québecà Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
  • g Institute of Psychology Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
  • h Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
  • i Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway Rm. 888, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States, Peter C. Alderman Foundation, Kampala, Uganda

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. © 2017 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

culture Psychosocial Context Emergency Mental health Desk review Humanitarian

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85034415267&doi=10.1186%2fs13031-017-0123-z&partnerID=40&md5=24828659faa19daa0dd498fa9053d975
DOI: 10.1186/s13031-017-0123-z
ISSN: 17521505
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English