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) – Bangladesh Red Crescent Society

¿ Ha incorporado el Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución los empeños contenidos en esta resolución en los planes estratégicos u operativos pertinentes?

Los compromisos han sido incorporados en
estrategia
política
plan operativo

A nacional, local nivel

Explicación:

BDRCS’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025: The key outcomes of BDRCS’s strategic goal -2 are “the health condition of communities and vulnerable people are improved through access to sustainable, affordable, and quality health services including psychosocial support” and its strategic target is to be trained of 75% staff and volunteers on Psychological First Aid (PFA) which make MHPSS as one of the key mainstream programs of BDRCS. BDRCS’s Health Policy and Strategy: BDRCS’s Health Policy and strategy stands for 5 components whereas MHPSS services including community-based PSS, MHPSS in emergency, caring for staff and volunteers etc. are one of the key components of the health policy and strategy. MHPSS Framework: The overreaching ambition of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society set to be a strong partner of the Government of the Bangladesh in the provision of quality mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services.
National: BDRCS is a strong actor in MHPSS of the Bangladesh and actively participating in all government policy and strategy formulation process. As an auxiliary role to the Government, BDRCS works with community-based PSS activities at local level. BDRCS is also represent in the district and sub-district Disaster Management Committees and advocates for increased provision and access to MHPSS activities and services. All the 56 Mother and Child Health (MCH) Center of BDRCS are at remote area of the country supporting psychosocial support to the people especially maternal and post-natal distress of mother. Moreover, all BDRCS’s Emergencies activities have mainstreamed an MHPSS approach and response, and recovery activities have a focus on the provision of basic MHPSS, family and community support and referral.

Ha trabajado el Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución con otros asociados para poner en práctica los empeños contenidos en esta resolución?

En asociación con:
Sociedad Nacional de la Cruz Roja o de la Media Luna Roja de su país
gobierno y/o autoridades públicas
CICR/Federación Internacional
otras Sociedades Nacionales de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
asociados en los ámbitos humanitario y de desarrollo (por ejemplo, Naciones Unidas, organizaciones no gubernamentales)
otros asociados

Ejemplos de cooperación:

The key aim-3 of the MHPSS framework is to Contribute to strong collaboration, networking, and partnerships with MHPSS actors at all levels. As an auxiliary to the government of Bangladesh, BDRCS recognised the great need to focus on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of the people through its health interventions at community level. With the technical and financial support of the Danish Red Cross in Bangladesh, BDRCS is mainstreaming MHPSS as part of its disaster and healthy emergency preparedness and response systems as well as its regular health services through the mother and Child Centres (MCH), Primary Health Care centres (PHCs) and Community Safe spaces (CSS) in Cox’s Bazar and nationwide. Examples include our research partnership with the Bangladesh University of Health Sciences and World Diabetes Foundation on Assessment of and Intervention for Diabetes Distress in People Living with Diabetes in Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (Rohingya) Population. Moreover, IFRC Delegation in Bangladesh provides technical and financial support to supporting people in distress in emergency and disasters.

¿Ha habido dificultades para poner en práctica los empeños contenidos en esta resolución?

Dificultades en relación con:
recursos humanos
limitaciones de financiación
falta de conocimientos o de pericia específica
falta de capacidad y/o de apoyo (técnico, financiero o de otra índole)

Describa detalladamente estas dificultades:

BDRCS’s MHPSS mainstream program has navigated significant challenges, mostly it has been constrained by limited technical human resources, which has impacted the delivery and scalability of essential services. Continued funding constraints have further exacerbated these difficulties, impeding the program’s ability to sustain and expand its initiatives. Despite these obstacles, BDRCS has strived to prioritize MHPSS needs at all levels, ensuring that the most critical support services remain available to those in need. The dedication to addressing these challenges underscores the ongoing commitment to the mental well-being of communities across Bangladesh.

¿Han incidido los empeños contenidos en esta resolución en el trabajo y la dirección del Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución?

Tipo de repercusión:
fortalecimiento de la cooperación entre el gobierno o las autoridades públicas y la Sociedad Nacional
aumento de la eficacia y la eficiencia de los programas y operaciones
desarrollo y uso de herramientas o metodologías innovadoras
establecimiento o fortalecimiento de asociaciones con otros actores humanitarios
incremento en la movilización de recursos
formación y capacidad de los miembros del personal y de los voluntarios (en el caso de las Sociedades Nacionales);

Describa detalladamente las repercusiones:

The commitments outlined in the resolution have significantly influenced the strategic direction and operations of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS). Notably, the inclusion of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in the BDRCS 5-year Strategic Plan (2021-2025) underscores its prioritization. Practical training initiatives, such as the Basic Psychological First Aid (PFA) training conducted across 41 districts and the workshops focused on caring for staff and volunteers, have fortified the organization’s capacity to support mental health. The development of an MHPSS Framework and its integration into the BDRCS Contingency Plan for various disasters ensure a structured and proactive approach to mental health in emergency responses. Additionally, embedding PFA in the First Aid Guideline and incorporating MHPSS into the draft Health Policy and strategy highlight a comprehensive and cohesive strategy to address psychosocial needs across all BDRCS activities. Furthermore, the creation of self-care guidelines, a PSS debriefing guide for emergencies, and PFA guidelines available in both Bangla and English have had a profound impact, enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of psychosocial support services.

5. Han incidido los empeños contenidos en esta resolución en las comunidades a las que el Estado/la Sociedad Nacional/la institución presta servicios?

Describa las repercusiones:

Since 2017, BDRCS has been implementing MHPSS activities especially in Cox’s Bazar as a result of the influx of People from Rakhine (PfR) state in Myanmar. With Increased capacity and experience of staff and volunteers, MHPSS interventions has been gradually and systematically expanded to the national Headquarters and other districts of the country through a mainstreamed approach. Currently, BDRCS provides basic and focussed psychosocial support services through the community safe spaces and primary health care centres in the camps in Cox’s Bazar, disaster and emergency response in affected districts and supports caring for staff and volunteer initiatives. By this process, the commitments outlined in the resolution have significantly impacted the communities served by the BDRCS (Bangladesh Red Crescent Society). The community-based Psychosocial Support (PSS) Program has been instrumental in reducing social stigma and raising awareness about Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). By integrating PSS services with the Mobile Medical Team during emergencies, the BDRCS has helped communities understand the equal importance of mental and physical health. In camp settings, the community-based PSS program, facilitated through community safe spaces, has notably improved social cohesion between host and guest communities, fostering a more harmonious and supportive environment.