MHPSS implementation workshop participants from Bundibugyo district in Uganda
Outbreaks and emergencies can have a significant impact on people’s mental health. However, there is limited evidence to inform the inclusion of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in outbreak planning, or to understand how feasible implementing MHPSS interventions during outbreaks is.
The MHPSS Minimum Service Package outlines a set of activities that are considered to be of the highest priority in meeting the immediate critical needs of those affected by emergencies. The MSP is based on the Inter-Agency Standing Committee MHPSS guidelines, incorporating available evidence and expert consensus over recent years. It is relevant for all emergencies, but has specific considerations for public health emergencies and outbreaks.
Working closely with researchers based at Makerere University, the Ministry of Health in Uganda and Africa CDC, this study aims to use the MSP to develop, implement and evaluate a suite of tailored MHPSS interventions that could be used to support outbreak preparedness and response in Uganda.
Firstly, the project team used the MSP to create a tailored, context-specific set of MHPSS interventions for outbreak responses in Uganda. The team then developed a plan to deliver the recommended interventions, including community engagement and capacity strengthening activities. Finally, the MHPSS interventions will be evaluated to understand whether they are well accepted and taken up, are feasible to implement and are appropriate to the response.
In parallel, the team is working to understand the experiences of frontline healthcare workers in outbreak response, to develop wellbeing plans to mitigate the impact of outbreaks on their mental health.
Julian Eaton, Assistant Professor and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Lead, UK-PHRST said: “Outbreaks and emergencies can have a significant impact on people’s mental health. The mental health and psychosocial support Minimum Service Package is a very practical, evidence-based resource for organisations involved in humanitarian emergency response to follow, and is very appropriate for outbreaks of infectious disease. In collaboration with mental health experts at Makerere University and Africa CDC, we are using the minimum service package to develop a tailored set of interventions that can be successfully and sustainably delivered by outbreak responders in Uganda. We hope this research will improve the mental health and wellbeing of communities affected by outbreaks across the country, and help us better understand how we can build community resilience.” |