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

Has your State/National Society/Institution incorporated the commitments contained in this resolution into the relevant strategic or operational plans?

The commitments are incorporated into:
Strategy
Policy
Operational plan

At the National, Local level

Explanation:

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.

Has your State/National Society/Institution been working with other partners to implement the commitments contained in this resolution?

Partner with:
National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in your country
Government and/or public authorities
ICRC/IFRC
Other National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies
Humanitarian and development partners (e.g. UN, NGOs etc.)
Other

Examples of cooperation:

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.

Have you encountered any challenges in implementing the commitments contained in this resolution?

With challenges on:
Human resources
Funding constraints
Lack of specific knowledge/expertise
Lack of capacity and/or support (technical, financial, or other)

Details about challenges:

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.

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the work and direction of your State/National Society/Institution?

Type of Impact:
Cooperation between Government/public authorities and National Society has been strengthened
Programming and operations have become more effective and efficient
Innovative tools/methodologies have been developed and are utilized
Partnerships with other humanitarian actors have been created or enhanced
Increase in mobilization of resources
Training and capacity of staff and volunteers has increased (for National Societies)

Details about the impact:

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.

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the communities that your State/National Society/Institution serves?

Description of the impact:

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.