Who we are

It is widely acknowledged that recovery from the psychological and social consequences of a crisis takes far longer than recovery from physical or material damage. Early and adequate psychosocial support for affected individuals, as well as for the staff and volunteers providing mental health and psychosocial services, can prevent distress from escalating into severe mental health conditions. The primary goal of psychosocial support is to build resilience and help people cope with and recover from disasters or critical events.

To address these challenges, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) established the Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (PS Centre) in 1993 as a Centre of Excellence. The Centre’s mission was to raise awareness about the importance of prioritizing mental health and to ensure psychosocial well-being for beneficiaries, staff, and volunteers.

In December 2019, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement adopted key commitments to address mental health and psychosocial needs, including a Movement-wide policy to guide each component’s MHPSS response based on its specific role and mandate. This policy establishes a framework for delivering support across the life course to individuals, families, and communities. Following these commitments, it was decided to transform the PS Centre into a Movement-wide MHPSS Hub starting in January 2025, reinforcing the Movement’s deep commitment to building global capacity to promote mental health, alleviate suffering, and foster resilience in communities worldwide.

To implement its mission and strategy, the Movement Hub:

• Operates under the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support framework of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• Is hosted by the Danish Red Cross and operates under its legal identity, with staff employed by the Danish Red Cross.
• Collaborates with National Societies, academic institutions, donors, international humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders in the field of MHPSS.
• Works in partnership with research institutions and other psychosocial stakeholders.