Report on – 33rd IC Resolution 2: Addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies (33IC/19/R2) – Australia

Has your State/National Society/Institution incorporated the commitments contained in this resolution into the relevant strategic or operational plans?

The commitments are incorporated into:
Strategy
Policy
Operational plan

At the International, Regional, National level

Explanation:

On 21 June 2023, the Australian Government launched the National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework (the Framework). The Framework guides how governments and recovery partners can consistently support the mental health and wellbeing of communities before, during and after disaster events. The Framework offers tools to enable governments, communities, and multisector recovery partners to work together towards the same goals in a coordinated and consistent manner, with defined roles and responsibilities, and using the same language.

To help protect the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of those responding to humanitarian need, the Australian Government also commissioned the development of the first National Mental Health Plan for Emergency Service Workers: 2024-27 (the Plan), which recognises the specific mental health challenges faced by emergency services workers. It guides consolidated actions that seek to reduce the rates of mental illness and risk of suicide among Australia’s current and former emergency services workers.

The Plan and the Framework have been developed through extensive consultation processes with key partners and stakeholders across Australia.

Internationally, from 2019-2024, Australia has worked to implement the commitment in crisis responses to COVID-19 globally, Ukraine, Türkiye, Morocco, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea by providing funding to partners, including the Australian Red Cross, to support mental health and community wellbeing activities in crisis and disaster response environments as part of broader humanitarian response packages.

Has your State/National Society/Institution been working with other partners to implement the commitments contained in this resolution?

Partner with:
National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in your country
Government and/or public authorities
Other National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies
Humanitarian and development partners (e.g. UN, NGOs etc.)

Examples of cooperation:

Australia has supported people’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic through a range of policy initiatives including: 

• providing additional funding for Primary Health Networks to boost existing mental health services, including for vulnerable groups such as older Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culturally and linguistically diverse communities; 

• improving and expanding the “headspace network” to support young people; 

• providing additional funding for the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service, which included a 24/7 phone support service, web chat support service and online forums; 

• boosting services such as Lifeline, Kids Helpline and other digital services to support specific groups; and 

• doubling the Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy sessions under the Better Access initiative for people with a mental health care plan from 10 to 20 sessions. 

Working with international partners (Red Cross, NGOs, UN), the Australian Government has supported psychosocial assistance including child friendly spaces in our responses to humanitarian crisis such as the Enga landslides in PNG and the Turkiye earthquake. In Turkiye, for example, the Australian Government funded the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) to provide urgent child protection and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) for earthquake affected families in southern Türkiye.  

Australia also funded the Australian Red Cross Rapid Funding Proposal to support the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Turkish Red Crescent to support immediate and early recovery needs of approximately 30,000 people affected in Kahramanmaraş province, including for Health and Care (water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Psychosocial Support, Community Health). 

Have you encountered any challenges in implementing the commitments contained in this resolution?

With challenges on:
Human resources

Details about challenges:

During the response to the earthquakes in Türkiye, partners experienced challenges with staff recruitment. Delays due to these and other partner implementation challenges were addressed with an additional local partner, Pikolo, which will enable targets to be achieved by August 2024.

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the work and direction of your State/National Society/Institution?

Type of Impact:
Cooperation between Government/public authorities and National Society has been strengthened
Programming and operations have become more effective and efficient
Partnerships with other humanitarian actors have been created or enhanced
Increase in mobilization of resources

Details about the impact:

The commitments in this resolution helped shape the National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework domestically and our approach working with partners in international crisis situations.

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the communities that your State/National Society/Institution serves?

Description of the impact:

Domestically, the development and launch of the National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework and National Mental Health Plan for Emergency Service Workers has raised the profile of the importance of mental health and wellbeing support during and following crises. While in its early stages, the implementation of the Framework and Plan will contribute to greater coordination on mental health action across all levels of government for disaster-impacted communities, and emergency services workers supporting them. The increased funding and support to a range of domestic services has enabled greater access to mental health support for vulnerable groups, including First Nations citizens, rural and regional communities, and older Australians. 

Internationally, Australia has supported programs that helped address the mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies. For example, in the Turkiye earthquake response to 2023, as a result of AHP programs, earthquake affected children and adolescents in Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, and Adiyaman gained increased access to safe spaces, MHPSS, and protective services, and caregivers of earthquake affected children and adolescents gained access to MHPSS and community support. This improved mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of earthquake-affected community-members (including 56 percent female and 91 percent children)23. World Vision established three Child Friendly Spaces and Women & Girls Safe Spaces and implemented eight of 13 planned activities reaching 2,407 participants (16 percent of target) including 64 percent women and girls.  Despite challenges with staff recruitment, the targets are expected to be achieved by August 2024 with adapted approaches including transitioning to mobile outreach centres. Field visits revealed these centres in Hatay have been very effective and addressed critical needs for psychosocial support services for children. This has been corroborated by participant feedback.  

While the ARC’s funding for the response was initially focused on psychological first aid, protection efforts evolved into detailed social assessments, case management, and guidance for individuals and families. Following protection assessments by the Psychosocial Support and Protection teams, TRC and IFRC procured and distributed 40,000 PGI kits to people in need.