IASC Community-Based Approaches to MHPSS Programmes: A Guidance Note

Community-based approaches to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (CB MHPSS) in emergencies are based on the understanding that communities can be drivers for their own care and change and should be meaningfully involved in all stages of MHPSS responses. Emergency-affected people are first and foremost to be viewed as active participants in improving individual and collective well-being, rather than as passive recipients of services that are designed for them by others. Thus, using community-based MHPSS approaches facilitates families, groups and communities to support and care for others in ways that encourage recovery and resilience. These approaches also contribute to restoring and/or strengthening those collective structures and systems essential to daily life and well-being. An understanding of systems should inform community-based approaches to MHPSS programmes for both individuals and communities.

This document was finalized in 2019 by the thematic group on Community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Reference Group on MHPSS in Emergency Settings (IASC MHPSS RG). The publication was coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support of Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) and endorsed by IASC MHPSS RG.