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Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Internationl Committee of the Red Cross ICRC (2018) C1

These ICRC guidelines outline the organization’s approach to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) during and after armed conflict and other situations of violence. They provide a framework for harmonizing MHPSS programmes within the organization, and an insight into its strategic process... more

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Africa’s Health Financing in a New Era

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (2025) CC

Africa’s health sector is facing an unprecedented financing crisis, driven by a sharp decline of 70% in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 and deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities. This collapse is placing immense pressure on Africa’s already fragile health systems as ODA ...is seen as the backbone of critical health programs: pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health services, disease control programs are all at risk, threatening Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Universal Health Coverage. Compounding this is Africa’s spiraling debt, with countries expected to service USD 81 billion by 2025—surpassing anticipated external financing inflows—further eroding fiscal space for health investments. Level of domestic resources is low. TThe Abuja Declaration of 2001, a pivotal commitment made by African Union (AU) member states, aimed to reverse this trend by pledging to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to the health sector. However, more than two decades later, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cabo Verde—have consistently met or exceeded this target (WHO, 2023). In contrast, over 30 AU member states remain well below the 10% benchmark, with some allocating as little as 5–7% of their national budgets to health. In addition, only 16 (29%) of African countries currently have updated versions of National Health Development Plan (NHDP) supported by a National Health Financing Plan (NHFP). These two documents play a critical role in driving internal resource mobilisation. At the same time, public health emergencies are surging, rising 41%—from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024—exposing severe under-resourcing of health infrastructure and workforce. Recurring outbreaks (Mpox, Ebola, cholera, measles, Marburg…) alongside effects of climate change and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, the Sahel, and Sudan, are overwhelming systems stretched by chronic underfunding. The situation is worsened by Africa’s heavy dependency with over 90% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics being externally sourced—leaving countries vulnerable to global supply chain shocks. Health worker shortages persist, with only 2.3 professionals per 1,000 people (below the WHO’s recommended 4.45), and fewer than 30% of systems are digitized, undermining disease surveillance and early warning. Without decisive action, Africa CDC projects the continent could reverse two decades of health progress, face 2 to 4 million additional preventable deaths annually, and a heightened risk of a pandemic emerging from within. Furthermore, 39 million more Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to intertwined health and economic shocks. This is not just a sectoral crisis—it is an existential threat to Africa’s political, social, and economic resilience, and global stability. In response, African leaders, under Africa CDC’s stewardship, are advancing a comprehensive three-pillar strategy centered on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing, and blended finance. more

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Guidance and technical packages on community mental health services: promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches

World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

The WHO Guidance on community mental health services: Promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches document is part of the WHO Guidance and technical packages on community mental health services set of publications. It provides a detailed description of person-centred and human rights-based ... more

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Operational Guidance Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Programming for Refugee Operations

UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR (2013) C1

This operational guidance on MHPSS provides a practical orientation and tools for UNHCR country operations. It covers specific points of good practice to consider when developing MHPSS programming and offers advice on priority issues and practical difficulties, while also providing some background i... more

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Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health (13 May 2020)

United Nations (2020) CC

Although the COVID-19 crisis is, in the first instance, a physical health crisis, it has the seeds of a major mental health crisis as well, if action is not taken. Good mental health is critical to the functioning of society at the best of times. It must be front and centre of every country’s resp... more

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HEARTS. Technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care. Evidence-based treatment protocols

World Health Organization WHO, et al. (2018) C_WHO

In many low- and middle-income countries, there is a wide gap between evidencebased recommendations and current practice. Treatment of major CVD risk factors remains suboptimal, and only a minority of patients who are treated reach their target levels for blood pressure, blood sugar and blood choles... more

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Intention to action series: people power. Perspectives from individuals with lived experience of noncommunicable diseases, mental health conditions and neurological conditions

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) C_WHO

This report includes six case studies from 12 individuals with lived experience of diverse health conditions. These case studies explore the topics of power dynamics and power reorientation towards individuals with lived experience; informed decision-making and health literacy; community engagement ... more

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Preventing the next Pandemic: the Case for Investing in Circulatory Health

Global Coalition for Circulatory Health (2024) CC

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a continuous and robust impact on world health. The resulting COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating physical, mental and fiscal impact on the millions of people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), as they have a higher risk of severe illness... more

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Communication Strategies for addressing radiation emergencies and other public health crisis

Centers for Disease C ontrol and Prevention (CDC ) (2009) C_CDC

The roundtable provided a forum that allowed communicators across a number of Federal agencies to share information, strategies, and challenges in developing and providing communication messages and materials to the public in preparation for, and in response to, a radiation... more

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Invisible Wounds. The impact of six years of war on the mental health of Syria’s children

Save the Children (2017) C1

“The children are psychologically crushed and tired. When we do activities like singing with them, they don’t respond at all. They don’t laugh like they would normally. They draw images of children being butchered in the war, or tanks, or the siege and the lack of food.” Teacher in the... more

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Childhood, War, Refugeedom and 'Trauma': Three Core Questions for Mental Health Professionals

Derek Summerfield McGill University - Medical Foundation Series (2000) C1

The rise of the discourse of 'trauma' as a major articulator of suffering within Western culture is a facet of the medicalization of life that has gathered pace in the last century. In recent years, Western mental health professionals have been increasingly involved in services addressing the plight... more

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Nota informativa provisional - Cómo abordar la salud mental y los aspectos psicospciales del brote de Covid-19

IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings; OCHA Services (2020) C2

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Diagnostic profiles and predictors of treatment outcome among children and adolescents attending a national psychiatric hospital in Botswana

A. A. Olashore; B. Frank‐Hatitchki: O. Ogunwobi BioMed Central; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health (2017) CC

Olashore et al. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health (2017) 11:8 DOI 10.1186/s13034-017-0144-9

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Note d'information provisoire - Prise en compte des aspects psychosociaux et de santé mentale de l'épidémie de Covid-19

IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings; OCHA Services (2020) C2

Groupe de référence du CPI pour la SMSPS dans les situations d'urgence

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Nota Informativa - Gestire la salute mentale e gli aspetti psicosociali dell'epidemia di COVID-19 - Versione 1.5

IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings; OCCHA Services; System Socio Sanitario Regione Lombardia ATS Milano Città Metropolitana; Servizio Sanitario Regionale Emilia-Romagna IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings; OCCHA Services; System Socio Sanitario Regione Lombardia ATS Milano Città Metropolitana; Servizio Sanitario Regionale Emilia-Romagna (2020) C2

17 Marzo 2020

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Guia Preliminar - Como lidar com os aspectos psicossociais e de saúde mental referentes ao surto de COVID-19 - Versão 1.5

IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings; OCHA Services (2020) C2

Março 2020

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WHO AFRO Outbreaks and Other Emergencies, Week 12: 18 - 24 March 2019; Data as reported by 17:00; 24 March 2019

World Health Organization WHO (2019) C_WHO

Cyclone in Mozambique and Zimbabwe Ebola virus disease in Democratic Republic of the Congo Humanitarian crisis in Mali Humanitarian crisis in Central African Republic.

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Integrating palliative care and symptom relief into responses to humanitarian emergencies and crises: a WHO guide

World Health Organization WHO (2018) C_WHO

Humanitarian emergencies and crises (Humanitarian emergencies and crises) are large-scale events that may result in the breakdown of health care systems and society, forced displacement, death, and physical, psychological, social and spiritual suffering on a massive scale. Current responses to Human... more

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WHO AFRO Outbreaks and Other Emergencies, Week 27: 1 - 7 July 2019; Data as reported by 17:00; 7 July 2019

World Health Organization WHO (2019) C_WHO

Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 in Angola Ebola virus disease in Democratic Republic of the Congo Dengue fever in Côte d’Ivoire Humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria.

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WHO AFRO Outbreaks and Other Emergencies, Week 13: 25 - 31 March 2019; Data as reported by 17:00; 31 March 2019

World Health Organization WHO (2019) C_WHO

Response to the tropical cyclone in southern Africa Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Meningitis outbreak in Togo Lassa fever outbreak in Liberia.