The IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (PS Centre) works under the framework of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), and supports all National Societies in promoting and enabling the psychosocial well-being of beneficiaries, staff and volunteers.
Create awareness regarding psychosocial reactions at a time of disaster or long-term social disruption.
Set up and improve preparedness and response mechanisms at global, regional and local levels.
Promote the resilience and thereby the rehabilitation of individuals and communities.
Restore community networks and coping mechanisms
Enhance emotional assistance to staff and volunteers.
Facilitate psychosocial support before, during and after disasters
The 2024 Strategic Operational Framework (SOF) outlines the priorities of the IFRC PS Centre. The SOF guides our global work to assist the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to scale up and strengthen the quality of MHPSS across the globe. Moreover, it outlines the ambition to maintain and increase the targeted global influence on MHPSS humanitarian diplomacy through a proactive and structured approach towards policy events and decision-making processes.
Concurrently, the 2024 SOF reflects the focus of the IFRC PS Centre, and the Red Cross Red Crescent
Movement more broadly, on the implementation of the Movement’s MHPSS Policy on addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies. The policy, adopted at the 33rd International Conference in December 2019, commits the IFRC, ICRC and National Societies to scale up and strengthen the quality of MHPSS, including in humanitarian, low- and middle-income, and high-income settings. A crucial milestone at the end of 2024 will be the transformation of the IFRC PS Centre into the MHPSS International Movement Hub, which will be launched in January 2025, entering a new phase in the Red Cross Red Crescent efforts to deliver on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. The tripartite partners of the IFRC, ICRC and Danish Red Cross will conduct an extensive consultation process in 2024 to compile the collective vision of MHPSS and shape the upcoming Movement Hub.
The International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies Psychological Support Programme emerged in the early 1990s at a time when an increasing number of National Societies realized that disasters can lead to not just physical but also mental issues in affected populations, and that the traditional way of offering relief in the form of shelter, food and medical care was often not enough.
As a result, the Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (PS Centre) was established in 1993 as a “Centre of Excellence” to support National Societies in promoting and enabling the psychosocial well-being of beneficiaries, staff and volunteers. Hosted by Danish Red Cross and located in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Centre is a delegated function of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The IFRC launches the Psychological Support Programme as a cross-cutting programme under the Health & Care Division.
The International Federation Reference Centre for Psychological Support is established.
As a response to the Yugoslav
Wars resulting in the breakup
of Yugoslavia, the PS Centre
gives support to programmes
for children affected by armed
conflict.
A roster of MHPSS experts is
formed and administrated by
the PS Centre.
The Gujarat earthquake in
India, killing between 14,000
and 20,000 people, causes
mental health problems
among the affected survivors.
Through an MHPSS delegate,
the PS Centre becomes
involved.
As a response to the
psychosocial needs after the
Bam eartquake in Iran kills
more than 34,000 people,
Iranian Red Crescent - with
support from the PS Centre
- deploys 11 psychosocial
support teams.
The IFRC Psychological Support Policy Paper establishes the basis of Red Cross Red Crescent intervention both in emergency response operations and in the implementation of long-term development programmes.
The Centre changes its name to the Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, underlining the community-based character of the interventions.
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, killing more than 225,000 people in 14 countries further reveals the need for a formalized psychosocial support programme within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
The Interagency guidelines for MHPSS in Emergencies is published. The guidelines lay out a multi-sectoral, inter-agency framework for implementing MHPSS in an emergency context.
The PS Centre becomes co-chair of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.
The UN Human Rights Council adopts a resolution recognising the importance of integrating mental health services into primary and general health care.
The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement adopts a joint Movement policy and a resolution on addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies.
A roadmap for implementing the Movement policy and resolution on MHPSS sets out key activities for the Movement and outlines the outputs and outcomes expected by 2023. The PS Centre is instrumental in its implementation.
The Covid-19 pandemic causes a global need for MHPSS response tools. The PS Centre produces more content in 12 months than in any proceding year, including new formats such as podcasts and training videos.
The armed conflict in Ukraine initiates the largest MHPSS response programme in the history of the IFRC. The PS Centre has a central part in this response.
On 5 February, the Danish Red Cross, IFRC and ICRC agree to, finalize and sign the partnership agreement for the future Red Cross Red Crescent Movement MHPSS Hub – transforming the IFRC Psychosocial Centre into a mental health and psychosocial support Hub across the entire Movement.
In June, the PS Centre hosts a three day conference in Copenhagen: MHPSS Momentum: Celebrating 30 years of mental health and psychosocial support - What have we learnt and where are we going? celebrating it's 30 year anniversary.
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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