Mesures prises:
- General observation
The Swedish Red Cross (SRC) has conducted a variety of activities implementing the pledge, not the least with regards to continued mobilization within the Movement and awareness raising. The SRC has been a leading organization in this work together with the Danish Red Cross, the ICRC and the IFRC, through the Movement Project on Addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs linked to Armed Conflict, Violence and other Emergencies (MOMENT). This project was initiated after the 2017 Council of Delegates and the SRC is a project partner with participation in the project’s steering group, working group and reference group, plus participation though the project manager. The objective of the MOMENT project is to work towards the inclusion of a MHPSS policy for the Movement that will be adopted at the 209 CoD, and a MHPSS resolution that will be adopted at the 2019 International Conference. Separately, the SRC in mobilization with other RC actors will work towards a side-event on MHPSS needs at the 2019 International Conference. - Research projects on mental health
Collaboration between the Swedish Red Cross University College (SRCUC) and the SRC is still ongoing. In 2019, in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten), a report on mental health among newly arrived children was being published, looking at challenges for, and resilience factors among, children.[1] This report will be followed by another one focusing on mental health among asylum-seeking children, a report that is due to be published during the fall 2019. In addition to this, two research projects looking at the need for physical activity and physiotherapy for traumatized refugees, and post-migratory stress is still ongoing, and several articles linked to this research have been published, notably an article publishing a new trauma history checklist, a tool that will better enable measuring of trauma in order to develop correct response.[2]
Research on mental health, torture and trauma has so far led to several positive outcomes. Together, the SRCUC and the SRC have been able to increase knowledge in this field, something that has been raised through a sharper advocacy work towards concerned authorities, highlighting needs for specialized treatment but also needs for better integration structures and psychosocial support and early interventions to prevent mental ill-health. The SRC has received increased funding from concerned authorities and research has been one way to raise needs. In addition, research is used internally to improve our own work with treatment and rehabilitation for traumatized refugees.
“Together with affected persons and communities, support and further develop activities and methods to address the psychological effects”
Domestic activities
- During 2018-2019 the SRC national department has further developed MHPS in preparedness and disaster response e.g new updated training I Psychological first aid and Psychological recovery. PSS volunteers where activated during emergency responses eg. Wildfires in the north of Sweden 2018. SRC MHPSS are in line with international guidelines and have contributed to the development of Swedish authorities’ recommendation for MHPS response in emergency’s.
- Ongoing project to integrate PSS in Red Cross programs “Restoring family links” and visiting service at custody’s and detention centers.
- Greater focus on MH in migration response e.g. to target unaccomplished minors is further developed.
- MHPS Support for volunteers is still an area of development. Now integrated in policys and new strategy will be adopted in 2020.
- Communication material about MHPSS has been developed and spread during 2018- 2019 in Sweden and shared with partners and the IFRC PSS Reference Center.
Examples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHhWxuth4sc (also available in English and Arabic), Short messages adopted for social media about “how to handle your worry” in Swedish, English and Arabic.
- During 2018-2019 the SRC Treatment Centers for persons affected by war and torturehave further developed MHPSS program for persons affected by torture and trauma linked to armed conflict and migration, and their families. Examples of this is: expanded psychosocial support activities for children of our patients; the development of specialized treatment for children and youth; the development of more psychoeducational and other group activities where we reach more persons in need that are waiting for treatment. In addition, efforts have been made to increase training on mental health, trauma, torture, and the right to healthcare for migrants. To highlight that the scope of our services has increased greatly. The SRC Health Care Department today has close to 100 staff members, most of whom are clinical staff working with patients. This is very much thanks to increased funding from concerned regional and national authorities.
International activities
- During the past years SRC have increased our MHPSS work together with our PNS:s and today we have developed MHPS components in eight countries including contextualized tools and trainings in three different languages (Arabic, French and English) ( See attached file “Report ToT in PFA- Sudan”, ” LRC Program overview”) Furthermore, PSS has been identified as one of the main needs of volunteers in the conflict and emergencies, as the ViCE study has already illustrated ( see attached file “Vice Study”)
In order to prepare a more effective and efficient response to MHPSS needs, and to contribute to the overall development of this thematic and operational area within SRC, SRC established an MHPSS Working Group (WG) to ensure coordination and cooperation between international and national department. The MHPS WG have quarterly meeting.
[1] Full report here: https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/publicerat-material/publikationsarkiv/h/hur-mar-nyanlanda-barn–i-sverige/#lank
[2] Full report here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320216760_Development_and_Preliminary_Validation_of_Refugee_Trauma_History_Checklist_RTHC-A_Brief_Checklist_for_Survey_Studies
