We support National Societies in promoting, providing and enabling psychosocial well-being for beneficiaries, staff and volunteers.
Our mission and strategy
Get in touch with our team members
The PS Centre organization and our history
Learn about our partnerships
The PS Centre year by year
Nearly 1 billion people live with a mental health condition. But mental health remains one of the most neglected aspects of healthcare. Some countries have only two mental health workers for every 100,000 people. The social and economic repercussions are profound. Anxiety and depression alone cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion per year. We must strengthen the capacity of health services to offer quality care to those in need, in particular young people. This includes community-based services and integrating support for mental health into broader health and social care. Investing in mental well-being means investing in healthy and prosperous communities [...]
It is commonly acknowledged that recovery from psychological and social consequences of a crisis takes far longer to overcome than physical or material damage. Early and adequate psychosocial support for people in need as well as for the staff and volunteers who provide mental health and psychosocial support can prevent distress and suffering from developing into severe mental health conditions. The main purpose of psychosocial support is therefore to build resilience and help people to cope with and recover from a disaster or critical event.
To address these issues, a Centre of Excellence – the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (the PS Centre) – was established in 1993 to raise awareness about the importance of prioritizing mental health and to provide psychosocial well-being for beneficiaries, staff and volunteers.
To implement the mission and strategy, the PS Centre:
Stay connected with psychosocial support and the latest news and events
The IFRC Psychosocial Centre (PS Centre) contributes knowledge and provides service to the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. It assists in facilitating mental health and psychosocial support, promotes psychosocial wellbeing for affected groups, staff and volunteers, and increases awareness of psychological reactions in times of crisis or social disruption.
The PS Centre is hosted and supported by Danish Red Cross. It receives financial support from a number of National Societies, institutional and private donors including the European Commission and DANIDA.
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