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) – Bulgarian Red Cross

¿ 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
plan operativo

A nacional nivel

Explicación:

Mental health and PSS has long been identified as a crucial activity for response to crises and recovery and is a key activity of the Bulgarian Red Cross.
It is supported by a developed structure, which at HQ level includes a coordinating and professional consulting body, working in close collaboration with relevant departments such as disaster management, refugee and migrant services, protection and RFL services, rescue services and youth.
At branch level MHPSS activities are integrated with the disaster response system and voluntary response units, deploying professional psychologists as volunteers, together with PSS trained disaster response volunteers.
The period following the adoption of this resolution is characterized by serious crises affecting the NS, such as refugee influx from the Middle East, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the currently continuing international armed conflict in Ukraine.
In all those crises, MHPSS has been a key activity of the Bulgarian Red Cross delivered in many ways – from face to face PSS, to hotline services managed at branch level, to the development of a more modern dispatcher hotline service.
Content-wide the MHPSS approaches were further developed to cover specific needs caused by isolation and fear in pandemic environment, experiences of hostilities and loss, combined with increased efforts to provide care and improve self-care among the volunteers of the National Society.
In the current phase of Ukraine response, MHPSS services are closely linked to integration activities aiming at improving the adaptation of Ukrainians in Bulgaria to the conditions and systems in the country, by also involving and training volunteers from the community.

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:
gobierno y/o autoridades públicas
CICR/Federación Internacional
asociados en los ámbitos humanitario y de desarrollo (por ejemplo, Naciones Unidas, organizaciones no gubernamentales)

Ejemplos de cooperación:

The Bulgarian Red Cross is part of the disaster response system in Bulgaria and participates in the crisis management and coordination bodies established for each emergency – at state level, as well as multi-agency bodies involving other international organizations, e.g. UNHCR.
The NS response plans, available capacities, concerns and needs are shared during the work of such coordinating bodies.
The NS also has established partnerships with local NGOs specialized in mental health (and health in general) as well as with the competent state bodies (eg. Institute of Psychology at the Ministry of Interior).

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

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

Describa detalladamente estas dificultades:

The system of mental care in Bulgaria is in a state of development, becoming less fragmented and shifting focus from the medical aspects of treatment to considering possibilities for follow up care for people after treatment and stronger focus on prevention. Complex, large crises such as COVID-19 or rapid increase of high number of refugees such as those from Ukraine create a very serious additional burden and larger gaps in responding to the needs of the affected people. Hence, there was need and demand for the NS to implement its auxiliary role in regards to the MHPSS, especially in the early phases of each of the crises above.

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

Tipo de repercusión:
aumento de la eficacia y la eficiencia de los programas y operaciones
desarrollo y uso de herramientas o metodologías innovadoras

Describa detalladamente las repercusiones:

The Bulgarian Red Cross has developed capacity and as an example, provided consultations and PSS to over 17 000 Ukrainian refugees from February to December 2022 exclusively with its own resources, without international support. Resulting from this experience and capacity built, the NS joined the IFRC Appeal on Ukraine and a large project for provision of MHPSS services to Ukrainians funded by the EU (DG SANTE) and coordinated for several countries by the IFRC.

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:

Over 1000 NS volunteers and over 150 Ukrainian citizens received PSS training since 2023. Nearly all response activities of the NS in the last 4 years, regardless of the type of emergency, include MHPSS.
A direct MHPSS hotline is accessible for people in need, with options for referral if direct professional intervention is necessary.
MHPSS services are closely related and integrated with community engagement and accountability (CEA), protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) activities, thus ensuring integrated care, protection of people’s dignity and sustainability.