Let's talk about depression during emergencies

1 April 2017

The Health Cluster celebrates World Health Day

The theme for World Health Day this year is depression. World Health Day – on 7 April – is the highlight of a one-year campaign run by the World Health Organization entitled: “Depression: let’s talk”.

Emergencies – typically involving significant losses to people, such as loss of family members, property and loss of the previous way of life - are a potent risk factor for depression. Depression affects both people living through humanitarian emergencies and humanitarian workers. Rates of depression can be double that of the general population in these groups.

As many Health Cluster partners currently support mental health services in emergencies, we are celebrating this day by featuring their work.

1 in 5 affected

An estimated 1 in 5 people are affected by depression and anxiety in emergencies and conflict situations. Yet, mental health services are often non-existent or not accessible. On World Health Day, we provide a snapshot of what Health Cluster partners are doing to support mental health services during emergencies.

Going local

A woman and her child await their turn at one of the several mobile clinics run by Première Urgence Internationale in Jalalabad district of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. These mobile clinics provide much-needed health care and psychosocial support. Trained health workers offer culturally sensitive group sessions in addition to individual counseling. They also design activities within the community to improve awareness about mental health.

Integrating mental health

A nurse reaches out to an older patient in the Bethlehem Psychiatric Hospital, a governmental hospital for Palestinians in the West Bank. People are suffering from high levels of acute and chronic stress, associated with occupation, uncertainty and violence. The Health Cluster works on integrating mental health into emergency preparedness and response in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Support for older persons in Ukraine

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has had especially devastating consequences for older people who continue to live in small villages in the buffer zone. They are exposed to continued shelling, economic hardships and social isolation. International Medical Corps provides psychosocial support services and activities, including weekly "active longevity" groups for older persons, like this one in Hranitne, Ukraine. Strong social support is an important factor to promote mental health and prevent depression. "I used to be lonely before I started coming to these groups," says a participant. "Now I see these people on the streets and we stop and say hello."

Helping Syrians cope with depression

A therapist at a mental health centre near the Syrian border goes through materials she adapted to work with Syrian refugees. Like most refugees worldwide, nearly 3 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey are under tremendous psychological stress due to the long-drawn conflict. In Turkey and Syria, Health Cluster partners implement WHO's mhGAP programme to provide materials, training and other support to general health and mental health professionals.

Youth to the rescue in Uganda

Medi leads a dance session in Uganda's Jinja district to encourage other men to come forward and take part in a programme to manage substance abuse disorders. The enthusiasm of Medi, who is himself recovering from substance abuse, coupled with the use of dance and music went a long way in motivating other young people affected by mental, neurological and substance. World Vision's strategy while implementing the mhGAP piot in three districts of Uganda helped 91% of people to recognize symptoms of mental illness.

It was like taking "relaxing pills"

"The most helpful thing were the sessions with my psychologist. They diminished my self-harming thoughts and made me develop my talent in drawing and writing," says a refugee. In Greece, thousands of people have been stranded, left with feelings of hopelessness, despair, and uncertainty. The International Rescue Committee provides individual and group mental health and psychosocial support services to refugees and asylum seekers across Greece based on the unique needs of the individual and their family.

A positive touch to someone's life

Duha is a psychosocial group facilitator for men and women who have been affected by the Syrian conflict in Jordan. During one of her psychosocial group sessions supported by Medair, she asked women in the group to work together. Each woman started a painting and then passed it to the person next to her, who in turn, adding something to the painting. "I learnt that if you add something positive to someone's life, it eventually comes back to you," said Tuka, a woman who participated in the group sessions. Medair provides outlets to men and women to process their emotions.

Working hand-in-hand with local organizations

Batoul talks to 10-year-old Syrian Hasan, who moved from Aleppo to Turkey more than a year ago. These journeys are particularly exhausting and traumatic for young people. Thanks to psychosocial support provided by Malteser International, along with Maram, a local Syrian organization in Turkey, refugees like him can cope with their distressing situations.

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