IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support

1. IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support

10. The PS Centre • Established in 1993 • Hosted by the Danish Red Cross • Current set-up since 2004 • Income from donors and consultancies

11. The PS Centre Mission: • “To assist the IFRC Secretariat and National Societies to develop the capacity to provide psychosocial services at the community level in areas affected by catastrophic events, long-term crises and/or armed conflict”

12. The PS Centre Health and Care Department Geneva Steering Committee + Advisory group Danish Red Cross IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support International Consultants (Roster)

13. Community-basedPsychosocial Support • To assist affected people to attain stable life and integrated functioning, to restore hope, dignity, mental and social well-being and a sense of normality.

14. Immediate reactions Emotional suffering • Shock • Bereavement • Grief • Anxiety • Anger • Confusion • Desperation

15. Community-based Psychosocial Support • Disasters are characterized by loss of: • personal relations and material goods • an income • social cohesion • dignity, trust and safety, a positive self-image • trust in the future • Creates negative spiral

16. Community Based • We work with National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies • With Headquarters and local branches • With volunteers, local staff and international delegates • Programmes are designed in collaboration with local stakeholders such as beneficiaries, community leaders, social workers and teachers

17. Principles of Community-basedPsychosocial Support • Facilitating resilience within individuals, families and communities • Respecting independence, dignity and coping mechanisms • Promoting the restoration of social cohesion and infrastructure

18. Community-basedPsychosocial Support • Reduces long-term negative psychological effects • Improves a person’s immediate ability to function under stress • Supports existing coping strategies

19. When is support needed Psychology Psychiatry Specialised mental health and psychosocial services Focused mental health & psychosocial support Community and family support Protective environment 19

20. Responding to acute needs Accepting acute physical and emotional reactions to shock PSP meet immediate emotional needs of disaster affected populations by Providing immediate support to alleviate long-term consequences Re-creating reciprocity and trust between people Re-establishing coherence and belief in the future

21. How needs are met PSP services in the early post-emergency stage aim at Providing medical care & psychological FA Making opportunities for expressing grief Normalising daily life Enhance psychosocial well-being Ensuring access to information Re-establishing relationships Meeting survival and Protection needs 21

22. Overview of E-PSP cycle of events Needs Assessment Local priorities and definitions of PS well-being Traumatic event Something happens Identification Completion Quick baseline E.g. relief distributions Formulation Evaluation Implementation Development of baseline, indicators, Logframe, M&E procedures On-going monitoring, FGDs, Reporting

23. How to develop indicators? • Indicators for psychosocial programmes are developed on the basis of the emotional responses observed during the assessment • Since PSP aim at bringing about qualitative change, we need to go beyond numbers • Never easy to quantify ‘soft’ issues and attach numbers to that which is better described

24. Psychosocial indicators • Beneficiaries have returned to school and work • Normal daily routines have been resumed • Children are active in play and educational activities • Religious and cultural ceremonies have been resumed • Incidents of violence have decreased • Communities are coping with the changed life situation and future challenges

26. Examples of Psychosocial Support • Tool for families to talk openly about the future and the consequences of living with HIV/AIDS

27. Examples of Psychosocial Support School-based programme in the West Bank

28. Examples of Psychosocial Support • Coffe shop in Aceh • Improvised community centre

29. Examples of Psychosocial Support • After the earthquake in Bam, Iran • Combination of Counselling and Recreational/Learning Activities Activities. Counselling and therapy

30. Functions of the PS Centre Capacity building in National Societies Documentation & Dissemination Operational Assistance to International Programmes

31. Functions of the PS Centre • Capacity building • Training of trainers • Support to regional networks • Stress management and staff support • Development of emergency PSP concept

32. Functions of the PS Centre Operational Assistance • Assessment, monitoring, evaluation, ex: • Assessment • Monitoring and evaluation • Mid-term reviews • Baseline • Indicators

33. Functions of the PS Centre • Documentation and dissemination • Training material • Information sharing • Advocate the relevance of PSP • Participation in international networks, eg. IASC

34. Functions of the PS Centre • Document database on the web • Mapping of international PSP • Coping with Crisis • http://psp.drk.dk

35. Our services • Advise • How do we get started? • How do we integrate PSP in existing activities • Link with potential partners or networks • Consultancies • Assessments, evaluations etc.

36. Our services • Training • Community-based PSP (ToT) • Stress management • Documentation and information • PSP related documents • Information sharing

37. Contact us! • http://psp.drk.dk • psp-referencecentre@drk.dk • naw@drk.dk