Mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings: research priorities for 2021-30

Wietse A. Tol, Section of Global Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Peter C Alderman Program for Global Mental Health, HealthRight International, New York, NY, USA; Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Electronic address: wietse.tol@sund.ku.dk.
PhuongThao D. Le, Peter C Alderman Program for Global Mental Health, HealthRight International, New York, NY, USA; School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
Sarah L. Harrison, International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ananda Galappatti, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Network (MHPSS.net), Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Jeannie Annan, Airbel Impact Lab, The International Rescue Committee, New York, NY, USA.
Florence K. Baingana, WHO African Region Advisor, MNS, Brazzaville, Congo.
Theresa S. Betancourt, Boston College, School of Social Work, Research Program on Children and Adversity, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
Cecile Bizouerne, Mental Health, PsychoSocial Support and Protection Sector, Action Contre la Faim, Paris, France.
Julian Eaton, Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; CBM Global, Amstelveen, Netherlands.
Michelle Engels, International Medical Corps, Washington, DC, USA.
Zeinab Hijazi, Mental Health Unit, Programme Division, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA.
Rebecca R. Horn, Institute for Global Health & Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK.
Mark J. Jordans, Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Brandon A. Kohrt, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Phiona Koyiet, World Vision International, Nairobi, Kenya.
Catherine Panter-Brick, Department of Anthropology and Jackson School of Global Affairs, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
Michael Pluess, Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Atif Rahman, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Derrick Silove, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Mark Tomlinson, Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
José Miguel Uribe-Restrepo, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.
Peter Ventevogel, Public Health Section, Division of Resilience and Solutions, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland.
Inka Weissbecker, Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Alastair Ager, Institute for Global Health & Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK; Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Mark van Ommeren, Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-1-2023

Journal

The Lancet. Global health

Volume

11

Issue

6

DOI

10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00128-6

Abstract

We describe an effort to develop a consensus-based research agenda for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions in humanitarian settings for 2021-30. By engaging a broad group of stakeholders, we generated research questions through a qualitative study (in Indonesia, Lebanon, and Uganda; n=101), consultations led by humanitarian agencies (n=259), and an expert panel (n=227; 51% female participants and 49% male participants; 84% of participants based in low-income and middle-income countries). The expert panel selected and rated a final list of 20 research questions. After rating, the MHPSS research agenda favoured applied research questions (eg, regarding workforce strengthening and monitoring and evaluation practices). Compared with research priorities for the previous decade, there is a shift towards systems-oriented implementation research (eg, multisectoral integration and ensuring sustainability) rather than efficacy research. Answering these research questions selected and rated by the expert panel will require improved partnerships between researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and communities affected by humanitarian crises, and improved equity in funding for MHPSS research in low-income and middle-income countries.

Department

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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