A) Objectives of the pledge:
The 2019 “Resolution 2: Addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies” highlighted the urgent need to address the growing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs in the face of the climate crisis, conflict, and other emergencies and to scale up MHPSS services, particularly in humanitarian settings and in in low- and middle-income countries. Despite growing recognition of MHPSS as a critical component of crisis response, significant gaps remain in access, availability, and integration of services.
Digital MHPSS offers a powerful way to bridge these gaps. The MHPSS Roadmap to the above Resolution therefore put a specific focus on digital MHPSS solutions. One expected output from Priority Action Area 4 (PAA4) of the MHPSS Roadmap, was “to develop, test, document and share innovative approaches, including digital MHPSS interventions, to inform learning and promote good practice. By leveraging technology, an accessible, scalable, and cost-effective support can be provided to those who need it most. Digital solutions break down barriers, offering culturally adaptable, multilingual, and stigma-free access to care, even in remote or conflict-affected areas and, allowing referral to further help, thus integrating users in a web of services and helping them access matching offers.
As the above Resolution called for strengthened systems and innovative approaches, technology-empowered and internet-based services provide an opportunity to enhance support networks, empower individuals and communities, and complement traditional services.
With the implementation of the previous pledge on “Digital Mental Health and Psychosocial Support: Exploring technology-empowered pathways to addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (2019-2024)” and the MHPSS Roadmap, a foundation was laid for a principled approach to digital mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies globally. A digital MHPSS working group was formed under PAA4 of the MHPSS Roadmap, supported by the MHPSS Hub, representing 21 National Societies from 4 regions, the IFRC and the ICRC and chaired by the Swiss Red Cross (SRC). The working group members collaboratively identified the opportunities and challenges of digital MHPSS care solutions, assessed structural requirements for the scalable integration of digital MHPSS within various contexts and developed practice-oriented, accessible guidelines for the effective and efficient implementation of digital MHPSS initiatives at a local and global level. The result is a comprehensive toolkit exemplified by the case study of the Sui SRK app (see Digital Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) – MHPSS Hub). Nevertheless, there is a need to continue making consistent efforts and allocate sufficient resources to promote and integrate digital MHPSS services into global response strategies to armed conflicts, natural disasters, and other emergencies.
The timeframe of this pledge is 2025-2028.
B) Action plan:
We, the subscribers to this pledge, commit ourselves to the following actions before the 35th International Conference in 2028:
- Making existing resources accessible to all Movement components: To ensure that sustainable, yet flexible technological infrastructures, as well as evidence-based interventions are made available within the RCRC Movement for replication and cultural adaptation, empowering National societies worldwide to overcome resource gaps and create accessible digital psychosocial support. One such infrastructure to be provided for all Movement components is the DIRECT platform co-developed by the Swiss Red Cross, a modular, universally adaptable software that enables the creation and implementation of internet and smartphone-based MHPSS interventions across the full continuum of care of the MHPSS Framework (for more information on DIRECT see the Factsheet or Video). Evidence-based psychological techniques have for example been culturally adapted, tested and implemented in the Sui SRK app, running on DIRECT, and can also be made available for all Movement components.
- Enhancing Capacity Building: To provide National Societies and practitioners with technical support and to support or build the skills and knowledge needed to develop and implement principle-led, scalable, sustainable and contextually relevant and appropriate digital solutions building on but not limited to the DIRECT platform, that effectively address the psychosocial needs of communities affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters, and other emergencies.
- Facilitating collaborative learning and exchange: To promote, support and continue international networking and the sharing of knowledge and good practices of digital MHPSS across the RCRC Movement including academia through the transformation of the digital MHPSS working group into a community of practice and learning (CoPL) for collaborative innovation – a key enabler to increasing action and to further develop learning, best practice and coordination across humanitarian actors.
- Mobilizing Resources: To adopt measures and establish or leverage principled partnerships with local and international stakeholders to secure financial, technical, and human resources.
C) Indicators for measuring progress:
- Number of information-initiatives carried out enabling Movement components to make informed decisions regarding digital MHPSS services.
- Number of National societies receiving technical support and guidance for the development and implementation of digital MHPSS services.
- Number of National Societies accessing and utilizing the provided digital MHPSS resources (e.g., DIRECT platform) and guidelines provided in the toolkit on Digital Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) – MHPSS Hub).
- Sustainable establishment of a CoPL for exchange to facilitate the continued colla-boration of Movement components and academia to promote mental health and psychosocial support by digital means.
- Number of knowledge-sharing events (e.g., workshops, webinars, forums) conducted for and with the CoPL.
- Number of Movement components, academia, and humanitarian actors participating actively in the CoPL.
- Amount of resources and funding allocated or secured through partnerships with local and international stakeholders and funding initiatives.
D) Resource implications:
Financial Resources:
- Budget allocation or fundraising efforts for technical support, establishment of CoPL and implementation of digital MHPSS initiatives.
Human Resources:
- Dedicated teams within National Societies for implementation of digital MHPSS initiatives.
- Expert consultants to provide specialized knowledge and skills.
Technical Resources:
- Hosting and Maintenance of technical platform/software (e.g., DIRECT platform).