The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement policy on addressing mental health and psychosocial needs refers to work conducted in all contexts by the components of the Movement. It presents eight policy statements to frame and address the mental health and psychosocial needs of affected populations, including staff and volunteers. At the Council of Delegates in 2017, the Movement adopted a resolution – Addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs – which recognized the urgency to strengthen the Movement’s collective response to mental health and psychosocial needs, and requested the formulation of a “Movement Policy on Addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs”.
This policy applies to all three components of the Movement – National Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – in their mental health and psychosocial support activities. It recognizes the variety of complementary activities carried out by them in all contexts in accordance with their different mandates. It seeks to provide a policy framework supporting all three components of the Movement in ensuring the quality of mental health and psychosocial support responses.
