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

Votre État/Société nationale/institution a-t-il/elle incorporé les engagements contenus dans cette résolution dans les plans stratégiques ou opérationnels pertinents ?

Les engagements sont incorporés dans les documents suivants:
Stratégie
Politique
Plan opérationnel

Au National, Local niveau

Précisions :

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.

Votre État/Société nationale/institution a-t-il/elle coopéré avec d’autres partenaires aux fins de la mise en œuvre des engagements contenus dans cette résolution ?

Partenariats avec :
Société nationale de la Croix-Rouge ou du Croissant-Rouge de votre pays
Gouvernement et/ou autorités publiques
CICR/Fédération internationale
Autres Sociétés nationales de la Croix-Rouge ou du Croissant-Rouge
Partenaires de l’humanitaire et du développement (par ex. Nations Unies, organisations non gouvernementales, etc.)
Autre

Exemples de coopération :

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.

Vous êtes-vous heurté·e à des difficultés dans la mise en œuvre des engagements contenus dans cette résolution?

Difficultés rencontrées :
Ressources humaines
Contraintes en matière de financement
Absence de connaissances/compétences spécifiques
Manque de capacités et/ou de soutien (technique, financier ou autre)

Précisions au sujet des difficultés :

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.

Les engagements contenus dans cette résolution ont-ils eu une ou des incidences sur l’action et les orientations de votre État/Société nationale/institution ?

Type d’incidence :
La coopération entre le gouvernement/les autorités publiques et la Société nationale a été renforcée.
Les programmes et les opérations sont devenus plus efficaces et plus efficients.
Des outils/méthodes innovateurs ont été élaborés et sont utilisés.
Des partenariats avec d’autres acteurs humanitaires ont été noués ou renforcés
La mobilisation de ressources a été renforcée
La formation et les capacités du personnel et des volontaires ont été renforcées (pour les Sociétés nationales).

Précisions au sujet des incidences :

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.

Les engagements contenus dans cette résolution ont-ils eu des incidences sur les communautés auxquelles votre État/Société nationale/institution vient en aide ?

Description des incidences :

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.