Art Refuge uses art and art therapy to support the mental health and well-being of people displaced due to conflict, persecution, poverty and climate emergency, in the UK and internationally. Their team of artists and art therapists is equipped to deliver dynamic, culturally relevant and responsive programmes in a wide range of contexts across the UK and internationally, with a longstanding history in South Asia.
This blog provides information about art therapy, its definition and history, the science behind it, the benefits of it, the four main types of art therapy for children and the benefits of art therapy to children in the long-term. It also lists several ideas for art therapy to do with children to get them engaged.
ICORN is an international network of cities that provides protective residencies for writers, journalists and artists that face persecution due to their professional activities.
Повернення ветеранів та учасників бойових дій до цивільного життя після служби часто є викликом. Хоча громади тепло зустрічають своїх синів і дочок, що повертаються, часто виникають дебати щодо найефективнішого підходу для їхньої реінтеграції в суспільство. Ці дебати здебільшого зосереджені на національному рівні, проте ключ до надання можливостей ветеранам і учасникам бойових дій, які повертаються, полягає на місцевому рівні.
Humanitarian emergencies cause widespread suffering, affecting people’s mental health and psychosocial well-being. Affected populations experience a range of stressors that can have both immediate and long-term consequences. These include exposure to violence, separation from or loss of loved ones, poor living conditions, poverty, food insecurity, loss of livelihoods and means of survival, physical injuries and illnesses, and a lack of access to services such as health care, education and social care. The MHPSS MSP is a resource for humanitarian actors. The goal of the MSP is contributing to reduced suffering and improved mental health and psychosocial well-being among populations affected by humanitarian crises.
In addition to the MHPSS MP website, you can download the manual in different languages: English, Ukrainian, Arabic, French, Bulgarian, Polish
These new migrants face numerous challenges to mental health, increased psychopathological risk exacerbated by high levels of violence and low state-capacity in their countries of origin, restrictive immigration policies, the fear of deportation for themselves and their family members, and the pressure to integrate once in the U.S. We find that Central American youth have seen improvements in their self-reported mental health after migrating to the U.S., but remain at risk of further trauma exposure, depression, and PTSD. We find that they exhibit a disproportionate likelihood of having lived through traumatizing experiences that put them at higher risk for psychological distress and disorders that may create obstacles to integration. These can, in turn, create new stressors that exacerbate PTSD, depression, and anxiety. These conditions can be minimized through programs that aid immigrant integration and mental health.
Returning children face many challenges including settling back into their families; re-enrolling in school; healing from trauma they may have experienced before, during, or after migration; and obtaining the resources to plan for a safer, brighter future. Through our program, returning children receive case management support, psychosocial, educational, and other critical services they- and their families- need to safely reintegrate. KIND’s reintegration services are gender-sensitive, trauma-informed, and culturally and linguistically responsive.
The publication focuses on the mental health needs of refugees and migrants by providing an overview of the available evidence on patterns of risk and protective factors and of facilitators and barriers to care at all levels (individual, family, community and national government). It identifies five high-level themes, each of which has implications for research and policy and is relevant across refugee and migrant groups, contexts and stages of the migration process: self-identity and community support; basic needs and security; cultural concepts of mental health as well as stigma; exposure to adversity and potentially traumatic events; navigating mental health and other systems and services.
This study examined the experiences of immigrant parents seeking asylum in the United States after recently fleeing the Northern Triangle region of Central America, attending both to the traumatic events and the strengths that mitigate this experience. The study employs a convergent parallel mixed-methods design to describe the experiences of 51 parents after being processed by U.S. immigration officials for seeking asylum. Quantitative analyses measured trauma exposure and psychological distress and posttraumatic stress symptoms, as well as religiosity, dispositional optimism, and perceived quality of life.
In the US, unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents (hereinafter referred to as children) are predominantly from Central America’s Northern Triangle. While unaccompanied migrant children are at high risk for psychiatric sequelae due to complex traumatic exposures, longitudinal investigations of psychiatric distress after resettlement are lacking.
Although migration has been a longstanding fact of life in Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of children affected by migration, including both children migrating and residing in host communities, is increasing. UNICEF estimates that 3.5 million children will be affected by migration in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Region in 2022, an estimated increase of 47% over 2021.1 Indeed, increasing numbers of children migrating has been on the rise over the past few years, with children and families now representing an increasing proportion of migration flows as compared to single men, who formed the majority of flows five years ago.
Child migration through the jungle of the Darien Gap has become a protracted crisis. Based on the trends observed in the first four months and the regional context, it is estimated that 800,000 people, including 160,000 children and adolescents, could cross the jungle in 2024, with many likely to require critical humanitarian assistance.
Refugee children face numerous adverse experiences both pre and post-migration, including traumatic events, travelling long distances under dangerous circumstances, complex legal procedures and hostile refugee policies in the host country, social, cultural and language differences and discrimination during the resettlement process. Despite this, many refugee children display positive outcomes in the host country.
Europe and Central Asia has experienced tremendous change since the collapse of the Soviet Union three decades ago. The 22 countries and territories in the region where UNICEF has Country and Programme Offices have seen rapid transformation of their social structures, societies, infrastructure and borders. Despite notable progress, many children in the Europe and Central Asia region still live in poverty, lack equal access to quality services and suffer discrimination, abuse, exploitation and violence.
Movement in and through the Darien Gap is not entirely new. Panamanian authorities have been tracking some migrant arrivals since 2010, and there are recorded cases of crossings more than a decade prior. However, until 2021 the numbers of people crossing the jungle were relatively inconsequential in comparison with other migratory pathways in the Americas. That year, more than 130,000 migrants successfully crossed the jungle on foot, up from an average of fewer than 11,000 per year during the previous decade. In 2022, arrivals jumped to almost 250,000 people. That number was surpassed in just the first eight months of 2023, and more than 500,000 people are on pace to cross by the end of this year.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) forced migrants around the world report a history of multiple traumatic events across their lifespan. The range of events includes verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse and assault, harassment, shunning, spitting, discrimination in housing and employment, destruction of property, blackmail, forced prostitution, forced heterosexual marriage, ‘corrective rape and coerced sexual orientation conversion interventions. Those who from a young age are perceived by others as behaving in gender non-conforming ways are targeted starting in childhood
Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people has been a staple of many armed conflicts and crises.1 But for governments and global institutions, persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity in conflict and crisis settings has been a blind spot. Queer people are largely invisible at the United Nations Security Council and in atrocity prevention efforts, peacebuilding processes, and international justice.
It sounds scary, but there’s no need to be frightened by talking about suicidal thoughts. Many LGBTQ+ people think about taking their life at some point, even if they’ve never made any solid plans. It’s not uncommon, and if you’re here reading this, or thinking about talking to someone, then well done! It’s a great first step.
Sharing reliable, easy-to-understand info on everything from mental health to sexual health, coming out, gender and sexuality, hate crime, discrimination and more.
Recent decades have marked major advances for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) people1 in many places, including the legalization of same-sex relations, legal recognition of gender identity on the basis of self-identification, better access to essential healthcare, restrictions on interventions on intersex minors, and increased protections against discrimination and hate crimes.
Supporting LGBTQ victims and survivors and being there for them as they navigate the complexities of life after trauma is a crucial aspect of collective healing. Whether you are part of the LGBTQ community or not, it remains vital to provide a safe and empathetic space for those whose paths may diverge from your own. Learn about ways to show your support for survivors within the LGBTQ community below.
Black LGBTQ+ young people hold multiple marginalised identities. Under the minority stress model, experiences of discrimination, rejection, threats, and violence are compounded, and can lead to negative mental health outcomes.
Many BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people are still facing difficult conversations with people who may be uninformed about race, queer identities, or the intersection of both. Intersectional conversations can take a variety of forms. Some are engaging their White friends for the first time about how being BIPOC impacts their experience in LGBTQ+ spaces, and others are opening up about the nuances of their queer experiences in BIPOC spaces. For people who hold multiple marginalized identities, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to explore the layers of these conversations with others — especially those whose lived experiences are different.
The Trevor Project offers several resources supporting the mental health of LGBTQ young people, including self-care guides and articles regarding mental wellness.
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The Human Rights Campaign is both saddened and infuriated by the deaths of at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people whose lives have been tragically and inhumanely taken through violent means, including through gun and interpersonal violence, in 2023. Since 2013, the Human Rights Campaign has tracked incidents of fatal transgender violence— the same year the Federal Bureau of Investigation began reporting on hate crimes motivated by anti-transgender bias— and providing action items that can help end the violence.
his manual is designed to orient helpers to offer psychological first aid (PFA) to people following a serious crisis event. PFA involves humane, supportive and practical assistance for people who are distressed, in ways that respect their dignity, culture and abilities.
General Guidelines for Addressing Mental Health Needs in the School Environment Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed approach for assisting children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of a stressful life event, such as a disaster, school crisis, or emergency. PFA is designed to reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning.
This is a guide designed to help the reader to understand more about PTSD. As well as a description of trauma, symptoms of PTSD, and effective treatments, this guide explores key maintenance factors for PTSD including: unprocessed memories, beliefs about trauma and its consequences, and coping strategies including avoidance. Written in a friendly and explanatory way, this guide is a comprehensive source of information for those with PTSD (and their friends and family). The concepts are explained in an easily digestible manner, with case examples and accessible diagrams. Arabic and English .
The links below provide mental health information in Arabic. These documents – easy to download – are intended for individuals interested in learning more about mental health and ways of improving emotional well being.
Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide is a stress management guide for coping with adversity. The guide aims to equip people with practical skills to help cope with stress. A few minutes each day are enough to practice the self-help techniques. The guide can be used alone or with the accompanying audio exercises. Informed by evidence and extensive field testing, the guide is for anyone who experiences stress, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.
These guidelines can be found in 29 different languages, in addition to English and Arabic.
This training material has been written for the many individuals who provide assistance and support to women who survive gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual trauma during disasters, wars and conflicts. We hope it may be helpful as well to those who work with gender-based violence in other settings. A number of manuals and guidelines address different and important aspects of GBV, including its prevention, the education of men and boys, and GBV in emergency settings. An overview of the most important contributions to this field can be found on page 2 (GBV in a wider context). The goal of this manual is to fill a gap by providing more information on the effects of GBV on mental health, and how to use this knowledge when engaging with survivors of GBV. Our hope is that the training will guide and assist helpers in the important work they do. In particular, we hope it will help trainers to identify and understand reactions to trauma, and deal with the different immediate and long term responses that women display after they experience traumatic events. Arabic, English
The IFRC is deeply concerned about protection and humanitarian assistance for children on the move. This is heighted by data that shows the number of children on the move, including unaccompanied and separated children, has grown substantially in the past decade.7 There are an estimated 50,000 million children on the move worldwide.8 Whether they are labelled as “migrants”, “refugees”, “displaced persons”, “trafficked”, or “stateless” there are numerous threats that are be faced by girls and boys on the move in their home countries, in transit, and at their destination countries.
Additionally, you can find these resources in Arabic.
The ‘Communicating with children about death and helping children cope with grief’ resource provides guidance for adults on communicating with children about death and helping them cope with grief. Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it highlights how children of different ages experience loss and grief, how to talk to them about it and how to help them cope with loss during the pandemic and humanitarian emergencies.
Additionally, you can find these resources in different language:Arabic , English , French , Ukrainian , Spanish , Portuguese , Fulfulde , Swahili , Italian , Filipino , Russian , Indonesian , Hausa , Bengali , Turkish .
This one-pager can assist Red Cross Red Crescent staff and volunteers who work with Restoring Family Links (RFL), or giving support to people in need dealing with having a family member who is missing.
Additionally, you can find these resources in different language: French, Arabic, Greek
This one-pager can assist Red Cross Red Crescent staff and volunteers who work with Restoring Family Links (RFL), or giving support to people in need; navigating having a family member who is missing.
Additionally, you can find these resources in different language: Arabic, French, Greek.
Key Message Bank for those Caring for Children and Adolescents. In both English and Arabic languages,
World Vision International and IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support launched a Child Friendly Space (CFS) Toolkit in 2017. This set of activity cards is selected and adapted from the existing CFS Activity Catalogue that promotes children and their families’ psychosocial well-being during COVID-19. The activity cards are designed especially for children who are in lockdown or have limited access to school and recreational programming. All of the activities can be done individually or with a small group of 2 to 3 people at home or in any suitable place.
Additionally, you can find these resources in different languages: Arabic, Somali, Farsi, Tigrinya, Norwegian, French, Malay, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish.
A one-page guide for parents and caregivers. The guide can be used by parents and caregivers with children directly affected by conflict and for children who may have friends in conflict settings, it can be used as a guide to help parents support and care for their children who may be struggling to find explanations after watching disturbing images on tv or on social media, it can be used by Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers providing support to conflict affected families and children, and by staff and volunteers manning hotlines and helplines – who may be receiving calls for advice and assistance from anxious adults and children.
Additionally, these resources can be found in different languages: Arabic, Polish, English, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian.
Reduce stress, recharge and build inner resilience. Humanitarians and people working in helping professions need to take care of themselves in order not to burn out and to be effective in their work. The well-being guide: reduce stress, recharge and build inner resilience is for individual self-care, and for peers and teams who work together. Each section can be tested or incorporated within regular meetings with a focus on caring for the carers. The exercises in this guide are for all humanitarian staff, volunteers and for recipients of mental health and psychosocial support services. If practised and used regularly, this catalogue of tried and practised tools can regulate stress, calm when distressed, promote sleep, and strengthen inner resilience.
Additionally, these resources can be found in different languages: Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Bosnian, French and English.
It is very difficult to say goodbye if a loved one has passed away. It is even more difficult and challenging if it was impossible to be present in the final days or attend services and burial ceremonies. When people die suddenly for example due to a natural disaster, their loved ones may not be able to be with them in their final moments to say goodbye and express their love and respect. In such circumstances, those left behind may feel intense sadness, pain, remorse, and guilt or may even lose the ability to go about their daily lives. In cases where it is not possible to be near the body of a loved one, there are some things to do to say goodbye in a humane and respectful way. These four actions can ease the agonizing grief of the loss and honor the memory of those who have lost their lives.
Additionally, these resources can be found in different languages: Arabic, Ukrainian and Turkish and English.
Psychological torture, including methods without visible marks (sleep deprivation, solitary confinement, and threats, stealth torture), is rising. Documenting these methods poses challenges. Lawyers and health professionals need interdisciplinary tools for better documentation alongside existing frameworks like the Istanbul Protocol. This article outlines methodology for developing additional instruments to document psychological torture, focusing on the Sleep Deprivation Protocol. We give thanks to Torture Journal’s for the permission to republish and reprint the three protocols that were first published individually in the journal.
The Caring for Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse (CCS) Guidelines (Second Edition, December 2023) offers an up-to-date global technical guidance on providing a model of quality care for children and families affected by sexual abuse in humanitarian settings. These Guidelines are a revision of the 2012 CCS Guidelines (First Edition). They include both revised and content additions based on practitioner feedback, the most recent evidence and learning. The new Guidelines aim to bring a stronger focus on gender inequality, intersectionality, as well as the connections between the best interests of the child and a survivor-centered approach.
These guidelines reflect the insights of practitioners from different geographic regions, disciplines and sectors, and reflect an emerging consensus on good practice among practitioners. The core idea behind them is that, in the early phase of an emergency, social supports are essential to protect and support mental health and psychosocial well-being. In addition, the guidelines recommend selected psychological and psychiatric interventions for specific problems.
Інструменти для батьків, які хочуть допомогти дітям почуватися краще під час та після війни. Ви зможете завантажити українську версію тут Tools for parents who want to assist their children in feeling better during and after the war. På norsk
The present report, which covers the period from January to December 2019, is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2467 (2019), in which the Council requested me to report on the implementation of resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1960 (2010) and 2106 (2013).
This manual, developed by UNESCO and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, provides guidance for educators on preparing children and schools for crisis situations. It includes strategies for promoting mental well-being and resilience among students and staff.
he Sphere Handbook provides a set of minimum standards for humanitarian response, including standards related to mental health and psychosocial support. It emphasizes the importance of preparedness and prevention measures to address the psychosocial impacts of crises.
UNICEF has developed a framework that outlines principles and strategies for providing mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings. It includes recommendations for preparedness and prevention activities aimed at promoting the well-being of individuals and communities.
Developed by Mercy Corps, this guide offers practical tools and methodologies for integrating resilience-building approaches into humanitarian programming. It emphasizes the importance of addressing psychosocial and mental health needs as part of resilience-building efforts.
Produced by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this manual provides a framework for implementing community-based psychosocial support programs. It focuses on building community resilience and fostering social support networks to enhance mental well-being before, during, and after crises
This action plan outlines strategies for promoting mental health and well-being, including preparedness and prevention measures. It emphasizes the importance of integrating mental health into public health and emergency response frameworks.
Dear survivor and those of you who are close to a survivor. Having one’s human rights violated can lead to painful short and/or long-term physical and/or psychological consequences. In the following you can find information and resources that we hope will be of help to take the first steps to move on in life.
The Conceptual Framework to Guide the Implementation of Best and Next Practice in Services and Supports for Veterans and their Families (the Conceptual Framework) has been developed as a collaboration between Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health (Phoenix Australia) and Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families (Atlas Institute). We have come together as intermediary organisations in the field of Veteran and military mental health, united by a shared purpose – to serve those who have served – and shared vision – to optimise the wellbeing of current and former Defence members through the best possible system of support and care.
It is increasingly clear that wartime deployment is a family matter. Almost half of today’s active duty forces are parents, and continuing hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan ensure that growing numbers of military families will experience repeated cycles of separation in a context of danger that may span across years of each family’s development. Research conducted since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq point to the strain that wartime deployment places on families, as gauged by a broad range of indicators.
Resilience is the ability to cope with, adapt to, and overcome challenges. With resiliency training, children and families learn not just to meet challenges but also to become stronger in the face of challenges. Developed by a UCLA-Harvard team, FOCUS teaches Military children and families to understand their emotional reactions, communicate more clearly, solve problems more effectively, and set and achieve their goals. Parents and children—from preschoolers to teens—learn to use tools that will aid in their everyday interactions and help them become a more complete and functional family.
Being in the Armed Forces means that you are exposed to a higher degree of risk and pressure than you might expect in other jobs. This booklet is intended to help you look out for your teammates by giving you guidance on how to discuss things with them and about some of the support that is available.
Sleep problems—in particular chronic insomnia and nightmares—are frequently some of the most troubling aspects of PTSD. While these sleep problems are considered symptoms of PTSD, the evidence suggests that they tend to become independent problems over time that warrant sleep-focused assessment and treatment. There are both pharmacologic and cognitive behavioral treatment options available.
When you serve in the military, you may be exposed to different traumatic events than civilians. The war you served in may also affect your risk because of the types of trauma that were common. War zone deployment, training accidents and military sexual trauma (or, MST) may lead to PTSD. Learn how many Veterans have PTSD.
The purpose of this desk aid is to help you better understand veterans and their families who might interact with your policies or services, be a customer or require support and advice. Understanding more about this community will allow you to design, adapt and evolve your work to make sure it is accessible and effective. The desk aid contains 10 introductory facts and key points about the veteran community. We hope you find it a helpful introduction and a source for finding out further relevant information to support your work.