A) Objectives of the pledge:
Protection and timely assistance of people affected by emergency situations, provision of Psychological First Aid (PFA) and further community-based psychosocial services in order to prevent distress. These activities are implemented through mobilizing volunteers who are part of the Georgia Red Cross Society (GRCS) PSS network and are trained in providing psychosocial support, on the basis of the GRCS branches and in close cooperation with stakeholders and local authorities.
B) Action plan:
– Strengthening capacities in identification and analysis of PSS needs during armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies;
– Strengthening capacities in protecting mental health and delivering early and adequate community-based psychosocial support services during armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies to affected population, as well as to staff and volunteers, based on the International Federation of Red Cross and Red crescent Societies (IFRC) PS Centre guidelines in order to prevent distress from developing into more severe conditions and build community resilience;
– Recognize and consider age, gender, disability, state of health, social class, legal status, deprivation of liberty, displacement and exposure to violence as further risk-factors in order to ensure effective access to mental health and PSS services for all persons affected, without discrimination;
– Ensure referral system for those, who might need psychological or specialised mental health care;
– Mainstream and integrate PSS within and across all sectors and promote the coherent and further development on national and local levels;
– Raise awareness of public and local authorities on the need of PSS;
– Strengthen the cooperation with the government, non-state actors, key stakeholders and Movement partners. Effective partnerships will ensure coordination of resources and reduce duplication of services in the implementation process.
Further develop and strengthen of the GRCS PSS capacities – ensuring access to well-trained, culturally-sensitive and competent PSS staff and volunteers.
C) Indicators for measuring progress:
– Number of actions taken for identification and analysis of PSS needs during emergencies (Needs Assessment – analysis and reports);
– Number of PSS basic, refresher trainings and Trainings of Trainers (ToTs) conducted by the GRCS relevant staff/leader PSS volunteers;
– Number of volunteers, staff and community members trained in PSS by the GRCS relevant staff/leader PSS volunteers;
– Number of measures taken by the GRCS to ensure effective access to mental health and PSS services for all persons affected, without discrimination and number of beneficiaries involved in the GRCS PSS services;
– Number of actions taken to ensure referral system for affected persons, as well as staff and volunteers, who will need further mental health care;
– Number of actions taken to ensure cooperation with relevant state and non-state actors;
– Number of actions taken to ensure promotion of PSS across public and local sectors.
D) Resource implications:
Human and material resources needed for implementation of the above-mentioned actions (PSS staff/leader PSS volunteers; training facilities and resources; resources for implementing various PSS activities; Safe Space – in case of opening PSS Centre).
