IASC - Guidelines - Checklist - For - Field - Use

IASC Guidelines
on Mental Health and

The IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial
Psychosocial Support
Support in Emergency Settings reflect the insights of numerous
agencies and practitioners worldwide and provide valuable in Emergency Settings
information to organisations and individuals on how to respond
appropriately during humanitarian emergencies.
CHECKLIST FOR FIELD USE
Specifc action sheets offer useful guidance on mental health and

psychosocial support, and cover the following areas:
Coordination
Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation
Protection and Human Rights Standards
Human Resources
Community Mobilisation and Support
Health Services
Education
Dissemination of Information
Food Security and Nutrition
Shelter and site Planning
Water and Sanitation
Reading the full IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in
Emergency Settings from cover to cover may not be possible during an emergency. This
limitation led to the development of this check-list for programme planning and
emergency response. This checklist cannot capture all the important points in the
Guidelines. Readers are encouraged to use this cheklist only in conjunction with the full
Guidelines.
Published by the Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC), the Guidelines

give humanitarian actors useful inter-agency, inter-sectoral guidance and
tools for responding effectively in the midst of emergencies.
Hecho el Depósito Legal en la Biblioteca Nacional del Perú Nº 2008-14673

© Inter-Agency Standing Committee 2008
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) was established in 1992 in response to General
Assembly Resolution 46/182, which called for strengthened coordination of humanitarian
assistance. The resolution set up the IASC as the primary mechanism for facilitating inter-agency
decision-making in response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. The IASC is formed
by the heads of a broad range of UN and non-UN humanitarian organisations. For further
information on the IASC, please access its website at: http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc
Cover page photos: © International Rescue Committee.
Suggested citation:
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) (2008). Mental Health and Psychosocial Support:
Checklist for Field Use. Geneva: IASC.
This checklist is a summary version of the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial
Support in Emergency Settings, which is available in different languages and can be obtained
from the IASC website at:
http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/content/products
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Force on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
in Emergency Settings wishes to thank everybody who has collaborated on the development of
this product.
Special thanks to the following agencies who are members of the Task Force and whose staff
have developed these guidelines: Action Contre la Faim (ACF), Church of Sweden, Global
Psycho-Social Initiative (GPSI), InterAction (through: American Red Cross (ARC), Christian
Children's Fund (CCF), International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), International
Medical Corps (IMC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mercy Corps, Save the Children
USA (SC-USA)), Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE), International
Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) (through: Action Aid International, CARE Austria,
HealthNet-TPO, Médicos del Mundo (MdM-Spain), Médecins Sans Frontières Holland,
(MSF-Holland), Oxfam GB, Refugees Education Trust (RET), Save the Children UK (SC-UK)),
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), International
Organization for Migration (IOM), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),
Queen Margaret University, Institute of International Health and Development (IIHD), Regional
Psychosocial Support Initiative for Children (REPSSI), Terre des hommes (Tdh), United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United National Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA),
World Food Programme (WFP), World Health Organization (WHO), World Vision International
(WVI).
For feedback or suggestions for the improvement of this publication, please e-mail the IASC Reference
Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings ([email protected];
[email protected]; or [email protected])
IASC Guidelines
in Emergency Settings
Contents
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION 5
Purpose of these guidelines 5

Core principles 7
Do´s and Don´ts 11
Chapter 2
MATRIX OF MINIMUM RESPONSES IN MIDST OF EMERGENCIES 14
Chapter 3
SUMMARY OF ACTION SHEETS: CHECKLISTS FOR MINIMUM RESPONSE 17
1. Coordination 17
2. Assessment, monitoring and evaluation 18
3. Protection and human rights standards 19
4. Human resources 21
5. Community mobilisation and support 24
6. Health services 27
7. Education 31
8. Dissemination of information 31
9. Food security and nutrition 33
10. Shelter and site planning 34
11. Water and sanitation 35
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
One of the priorities in emergencies is to protect and improve people's mental health
and psychosocial well-being.
A significant gap has been the absence of a multi-sectoral, inter-agency framework that
enables effective coordination, identifies useful practices, flags potentially harmful
practices, and clarifies how different approaches to mental health and psychosocial
support complement one another.
These Guidelines reflect the insights of practitioners from different geographical regions,
disciplines and sectors, and reflect an emerging consensus on good practice among
practitioners. The core idea behind them is that, in the early phase of an emergency,
social supports are essential to protect and support mental health and psychosocial
well-being. In addition, the Guidelines recommend selected psychological and
psychiatric interventions for specific problems.
The composite term mental health and psychosocial support is used in this document
to describe any type of local or outside support that aims to protect or promote
psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental disorder.
PURPOSE OF THESE GUIDELINES
The primary purpose of these guidelines is to enable humanitarian actors and

communities to plan, establish and coordinate a set of minimum multi-sectoral
responses to protect and improve people's mental health and psychosocial well-being
in the midst of an emergency.
The focus of the guidelines is on implementing minimum responses, which are essential,
high-priority responses that should be implemented as soon as possible in an emergency.
Minimum responses are the first things that ought to be done; they are the essential
Before implementing, please read relevant text in the full version of the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings 5
first steps that lay the foundation for the more comprehensive efforts that may be
needed (including during the stabilised phase and early reconstruction).
Implementation of the guidelines requires extensive collaboration among various

humanitarian actors: no single community or agency is expected to have the capacity
to implement all necessary minimum responses in the midst of an emergency.
These guidelines are not intended solely for mental health and psychosocial workers.
Numerous action sheets in the guidelines outline social supports relevant to the core
humanitarian domains, such as protection, general health, education, water and
sanitation, food security and nutrition, shelter, camp management. Mental health and
psychosocial workers seldom work in these domains, but are encouraged to use this
document to advocate with communities and colleagues from other disciplines to
ensure that appropriate action is taken to address the social risk factors that affect
mental health and psychosocial well-being. The clinical and specialised forms of
psychological or psychiatric supports indicated in the guidelines should only be
implemented under the leadership of mental health professionals.
How to use this checklist for field use
Reading the full IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial

Support in Emergency Settings from cover to cover may not be possible
during an emergency. This limitation led to the development of this field
version, which may be used as a check-list for programme planning and
emergency response. This brief version cannot capture all the important
points in the Guidelines. Readers are encouraged to use this field version
only in conjunction with the full Guidelines.
A good way to begin is to scan the table in Chapter 2 and search for the
items of greatest relevance and go directly to the corresponding action
sheets that are summarized in Chapter 3. For more detailed guidance on
any particular action, one needs to consult the relevant action sheet in the
full IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in
Emergency Settings:
(http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/content/products)
6 This document summarizes the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. Human rights and equity
Humanitarian actors should promote the human rights of all

affected persons and protect individuals and groups who are at
heightened risk of human rights violations. Humanitarian actors
should also promote equity and non-discrimination.
2. Participation
Humanitarian action should maximise the participation of local

affected populations in the humanitarian response. In most
emergency situations, significant numbers of people exhibit
sufficient resilience to participate in relief and reconstruction
efforts.
3. Do no harm
Work on mental health and psychosocial support has the

potential to cause harm because it deals with highly sensitive
issues. Humanitarian actors may reduce the risk of harm in
various ways, such as:
Participating in coordination groups to learn from others and to

minimise duplication and gaps in response;
Designing interventions on the basis of sufficient information
Committing to evaluation, openness to scrutiny and external
review;
Developing cultural sensitivity and competence in the areas in which
they intervene/work; and
Developing an understanding of, and consistently reflecting on,
universal human rights, power relations between outsiders and
emergency-affected people, and the value of participatory approaches.
4. Building on available resources and capacities
All affected groups have assets or resources that support

mental health and psychosocial well-being. A key principle,
even in the early stages of an emergency, is building local
capacities, supporting self-help and strengthening the
resources already present. Externally driven and implemented
programmes often lead to inappropriate mental health and
psychosocial support and frequently have limited
sustainability. Where possible, it is important to build both
government and civil society capacities.
5. Integrated support systems
Activities and programming should be integrated as far as

possible. The proliferation of stand-alone services, such as
those dealing only with rape survivors or only with people
with a specific diagnosis, can create a highly fragmented
care system.
6. Multi-layered supports
In emergencies, people are affected in different ways and

require different kinds of supports. A key to organising mental
health and psychosocial support is to develop a layered
system of complementary supports that meets the needs of
different groups (see Figure 1). All layers of the pyramid are
important and should ideally be implemented concurrently.
Specialised
services
Focused,
non-specialised
supports
Community and family supports
Basic services and security
Figure 1. Intervention pyramid for mental health and psychosocial support

in emergencies. Each layer is described below.
i. Basic services and security
The well-being of all people should be protected through the (re)establishment

of security, adequate governance and services that address basic physical needs.
A mental health and psychosocial response to the need for basic services and
security may include: advocating that these services are put in place with
responsible actors; documenting their impact on mental health and psychosocial
well-being; and influencing humanitarian actors to deliver them in safe, dignified,
socio-culturally appropriate ways that promote mental health and psychosocial
well-being.
ii. Community and family supports
The second layer represents the emergency response for a smaller number of
people who are able to maintain their mental health and psychosocial well-being
if they receive help in accessing key community and family supports. Useful
responses in this layer include family tracing and reunification, assisted mourning
and communal healing ceremonies, mass communication on constructive coping
methods, supportive parenting programmes, formal and non-formal educational
activities, livelihood activities and the activation of social networks, such as
through women's groups and youth clubs.
iii. Focused, non-specialised supports
The third layer represents the supports necessary for the still smaller number of
people who additionally require more focused individual, family or group
interventions by trained and supervised workers (but who may not have had
years of training in specialised care). For example, survivors of gender-based
violence might need a mixture of emotional and livelihood support from
community workers. This layer also includes psychological first aid (PFA) and
basic mental health care by primary health care workers.
iv. Specialised services
The top layer of the pyramid represents the additional support required for the
small percentage of the population whose suffering, despite the supports already
mentioned, is intolerable and who may have significant difficulties in basic
daily functioning. This assistance should include psychological or psychiatric
supports for people with severe mental disorders whenever their needs exceed
the capacities of primary/general health services.
DO´S AND DON´TS
Experience from many different emergencies indicates that some actions are advisable,
whereas others should typically be avoided. These are identified below as 'Do's' and
'Don'ts' respectively.
Do's Don'ts
Establish one overall coordination group Do not create separate groups on mental
on mental health and psychosocial health or on psychosocial support that do
support. not talk or coordinate with one another.
Support a coordinated response, Do not work in isolation or without

participating in coordination meetings and thinking how one's own work fits with
adding value by complementing the work that of others.
of others.
Collect and analyse information to Do not conduct duplicate assessments or

determine whether a response is needed accept preliminary data in an uncritical
and, if so, what kind of response. manner.
Tailor assessment tools to the local Do not use assessment tools not validated
context. in the local, emergency-affected context.
Recognise that people are affected by Do not assume that everyone in an

emergencies in different ways. More emergency is traumatised, or that people
resilient people may function well, who appear resilient need no support.
whereas others may be severely affected
and may need specialised supports.
Ask questions in the local language(s) and Do not duplicate assessments or ask very
in a safe, supportive manner that respects distressing questions without providing
confidentiality. follow-up support.
Pay attention to gender differences. Do not assume that emergencies affect

men and women (or boys and girls) in
exactly the same way, or that programmes
designed for men will be of equal help or
accessibility for women.
Do's Don'ts
Check references in recruiting staff and Do not use recruiting practices that
volunteers and build the capacity of new severely weaken existing local structures.
personnel from the local and/or affected
community.
After trainings on mental health and Do not use one-time, stand-alone trainings
psychosocial support, provide follow-up or very short trainings without follow-up
supervision and monitoring to ensure that if preparing people to perform complex
interventions are implemented correctly. psychological interventions.
Facilitate the development of Do not use a charity model that treats

community-owned, managed and run people in the community mainly as
programmes. recipients of services.
Build local capacities, supporting self-help Do not organise supports that undermine
and strengthening the resources already or ignore local responsibilities and
present in affected groups. capacities.
Learn about and, where appropriate, use Do not assume that all local cultural
local cultural practices to support local practices are helpful or that all local people
people. are supportive of particular practices.
Use methods from outside the culture Do not assume that methods from abroad
where it is appropriate to do so. are necessarily better or impose them on
local people in ways that marginalise local
supportive practices and beliefs.
Build government capacities and integrate Do not create parallel mental health
mental health care for emergency survivors services for specific sub-populations.
in general health services and, if available,
in community mental health services.
Organise access to a range of supports, Do not provide one-off, single-session

including psychological first aid, to people psychological debriefing for people in the
in acute distress after exposure to an general population as an early intervention
extreme stressor. after exposure to conflict or natural
disaster.
Do's Don'ts
Train and supervise primary/general health Do not provide psychotropic medication

care workers in good prescription practices or psychological support without training
and in basic psychological support. and supervision.
Use generic medications that are on the Do not introduce new, branded
essential drug list of the country. medications in contexts where such
medications are not widely used.
Establish effective systems for referring and Do not establish screening for people with
supporting severely affected people. mental disorders without having in place
appropriate and accessible services to care
for identified persons.
Develop locally appropriate care solutions Do not institutionalise people (unless an

for people at risk of being institutionalised. institution is temporarily an indisputable
last resort for basic care and protection).
Use agency communication officers to Do not use agency communication officers

promote two-way communication with to communicate only with the outside
the affected population as well as with world.
the outside world.
Use channels such as the media to provide Do not create or show media images that
accurate information that reduces stress and sensationalise people's suffering or put
enables people to access humanitarian people at risk.
services.
Seek to integrate psychosocial Do not focus solely on clinical activities

considerations as relevant into all sectors in the absence of a multi-sectoral response.
of humanitarian assistance.
CHAPTER 2
Matrix of minimum responses

in midst of emergencies
Area A. Common functions
1 Coordination 1.1 Establish coordination of intersectoral mental health

and psychosocial support (page 17)
2 Assessment, 2.1 Conduct assessments of mental health and

monitoring and psychosocial issues (page 18)
evaluation 2.2 Initiate participatory systems for monitoring and
evaluation (page 18)
3 Protection and 3.1 Apply a human rights framework through mental

human rights health and psychosocial support (page19)
standards 3.2 Identify, monitor, prevent and respond to protection
threats and failures through social protection (page 19)
3.3 Identify, monitor, prevent and respond to protection
threats and abuses through legal protection (page 20)
4.1 Identify and recruit staff and engage volunteers who

understand local culture (page 21)
4 Human 4.2 Enforce staff codes of conduct and ethical guidelines
resources (page 22)
4.3 Organise orientation and training of aid workers in
mental health and psychosocial support (page 23)
4.4 Prevent and manage problems in mental health and
psychosocial well-being among staff and volunteers
(page 24)
Area B. Core mental health and psychosocial supports
5 Community 5.1 Facilitate conditions for community

mobilisation mobilisation, ownership and control of
and support emergency response in all sectors (page 24)
5.2 Facilitate community self-help and social
support (page 25)
5.3 Facilitate conditions for appropriate communal
cultural, spiritual and religious healing practices
(page 26)
5.4 Prevent separation and facilitate support for
young children (0-8 years) and their care-givers
(page 27)
6 Health 6.1 Include specific psychological and social

services considerations in provision of general health
care (page 27)
6.2 Provide access to care for people with severe
mental disorders (page 28)
6.3 Protect and care for people with severe mental
disorders and other mental and neurological
disabilities living in institutions (page 29)
6.4 Learn about and, where appropriate, collaborate
with local, indigenous and traditional health
systems (page 30)
6.5 Minimise harm related to alcohol and other
substance use (page 30)
7 Education 7.1 Strengthen access to safe and supportive

education (page 31)
8 Dissemination 8.1 Provide information to the affected population

of information on the emergency, relief efforts and their legal
rights (page 31)
8.2 Provide access to information about positive
coping methods (page 32)
Area C. Social considerations in sectors
9 Food security 9.1 Include specific social and psychological

and nutrition considerations (safe aid for all in dignity,
considering cultural practices and household
roles) in the provision of food and nutritional
support (page 33)
10 Shelter and 10.1 Include specific social considerations (safe,

site planning dignified, culturally and socially appropriate
assistance) in site planning and shelter provision,
in a coordinated manner (page 34)
11 Water and 11.1 Include specific social considerations (safe and

sanitation culturally appropriate access for all in dignity)
in the provision of water and sanitation (page 35)
The full guidelines include 25 action sheets that explain how to implement each of the
above minimum responses (See Chapter 3).
CHAPTER 3
Summary of Action Sheets:

Checklists for Minimum Response
Each of the checklists below summarise key actions of a minimum response. The checklists
correspond to the 25 action sheets of the full version of the IASC Guidelines on Mental
Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, which provide more detailed
information and instruction.
1. COORDINATION
1.1 Establish coordination of intersectoral mental health and psychosocial support
Activate or establish
mechanisms for intersectoral
MHPSS coordination
(e.g., establish a MHPSS
coordination group).
Coordinate programme
planning and
implementation,
including development
of a MHPSS strategic
plan.
Adapt/develop and
disseminate guidelines
and coordinate
advocacy on MHPSS.
Coordinate fundraising
and advocacy for resources.
For a detailed explanation, see pages 33-37 of the IASC Guidelines on Mental
Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings.
2. ASSESSMENT, MONITORING AND EVALUATION
2.1 Conduct assessments of mental health and psychosocial issues
Ensure that assessments are coordinated.

Collect and analyse key
information relevant to
mental health and
psychosocial support.
Conduct assessments in an
ethical, rigorous and
appropriately
participatory manner.
Collate, disseminate and
use assessment results
with the community and
humanitarian actor,
ensuring confidentiality
and respecting the Do Not
Harm principle, including
protection risks.
For a detailed explanation, see pages 38-45 of the IASC Guidelines.
Initiate participatory
2.2
systems for monitoring
and evaluation
Define a set of indicators for

monitoring, according to defined
objectives and activities.
Apply monitoring and
evaluation methods in an
ethical and appropriately
participatory manner.
Use monitoring for reflection,
learning and positive change.
For a detailed explanation, see pages

46-49 of the IASC Guidelines.
3. PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS
3.1 Apply a human rights framework through mental health and psychosocial
support
Advocate for compliance with international human rights standards in all forms
of mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies.
Implement mental health and
psychosocial supports in a way
that that promotes and protects
human rights.
Include a focus on human
rights and protection in the
training of all relevant
humanitarian and human
rights actors.
Establish - within the context
of humanitarian and
pre-existing
services - mechanisms for the
monitoring and reporting of
abuse and exploitation by
humanitarian agencies.
Advocate and provide advice to states on bringing relevant national legislation,
policies, programmes and practices into line with international law and
standards.
3.2 Identify, monitor, prevent and respond to protection threats and failures
through social protection
Learn from protection experts or their specialised protection assessments whether,

when and how to collect information on protection threats.
Conduct a multi-sectoral, participatory assessment of protection threats and
capacities.
Activate or establish social protection mechanisms, building local protection
capacities where needed.
Respond to protection threats by taking appropriate, community-guided action.
Monitor on an
ongoing basis
protection
threats in
venues such as
schools and
marketplaces,
sharing
information
with relevant
agencies and
protection
stakeholders.
Prevent
protection threats
through a
combination of programming and advocacy.
Identify, monitor, prevent and respond to protection threats and abuses

3.3
through legal protection
Identify the main

protection threats
and the status of
existing
protection
mechanisms,
especially for
people at
particular risk.
Increase affected
people's
awareness of their
legal rights and their
ability to assert these
rights in the safest possible
way, using culturally
appropriate communication methods.
Support mechanisms for monitoring, reporting and responding to violations of
legal standards.
Advocate for compliance with international law and standards, and with national
and customary laws consistent with international standards.
Implement legal protection in a manner that promotes psychosocial well-being,
dignity and respect.
Provide psychosocial support and legal protection services in a complementary
fashion.
4. HUMAN RESOURCES
4.1 Identify and recruit staff and engage volunteers who understand local culture
Designate knowledgeable and accountable personnel to undertake recruitment.

Apply recruitment and selection principles.
Balance gender in the recruitment process and include representatives of key
cultural and ethnic groups.
Establish terms and conditions for volunteer work.
Check references and professional qualifications
when recruiting national and international staff,
including short-term consultants, translators,
interns and volunteers.
Aim to hire staff who have
knowledge of, and insight into,
the local culture and
appropriate modes of
behaviour.
Carefully evaluate offers
of help from individual
(non-affiliated) foreign
mental health
professionals.
For a detailed explanation, see

pages 71-75 of the IASC
Guidelines.
4.2 Enforce staff codes of conduct and ethical guidelines
Establish within each organisation a code of conduct that embodies widely accepted
standards of conduct for humanitarian workers.
Inform and regularly remind all humanitarian workers, both current and newly
recruited workers, about the agreed minimum required standards of behaviour,
based on explicit codes of conduct and ethical guidelines.
Establish an agreed inter-agency mechanism (e.g. Focal Point Network proposed

by the United Nations Secretary-General) that builds consistency, coordination
and best practices to implement of codes of conduct and ethical guidelines.
Establish accessible, safe, confidential and trusted complaints mechanisms.
Inform communities about the standards and ethical guidelines, and of how and
to whom they can raise concerns confidentially.
Ensure that all staff understand that they must report all concerns as soon as they
are raised.
Use investigation protocols that comply with an agreed standard, such as the IASC
Model Complaints and Investigations Procedures.
Take appropriate disciplinary action against staff for confirmed violations of the
code of conduct or ethical guidelines.
Establish an agreed response in cases in which the alleged behaviour constitutes a
criminal act in either the host country or the home country of the alleged perpetrator.
Maintain written records of workers who have been found to have violated codes
of conduct, to increase the effectiveness of subsequent referral/recruitment checks.
4.3 Organise orientation and training of aid workers in mental health and
psychosocial support
Prepare a strategic, comprehensive, timely and realistic plan for training.

Select competent, motivated trainers.
Utilise learning methodologies
that facilitate the immediate
and practical application of
learning.
Match trainees' learning needs
with appropriate modes of
learning through brief
orientation seminars or
training seminars.
Prepare
orientation and
training
seminar
content
directly
related to the
expected
emergency
response.
Consider Training of Trainers (ToT)
programmes to prepare trainers to train others.
After any training, establish a follow-up system for monitoring, support,
feedback and supervision of all trainees, as appropriate to the situation.
Document and evaluate orientation and training to identify lessons learned, to
be shared with partners and to enhance future responses.
4.4 Prevent and manage problems in mental health and psychosocial well-being
among staff and volunteers
Ensure the availability of a concrete

plan to protect and promote staff
well-being for the specific emergency.
Prepare staff for their jobs and
for the emergency context.
Facilitate a healthy working
environment.
Address potential work-related
stressors.
Ensure access to health
care and psychosocial
support for staff.
Provide support to
staff who have
experienced or
witnessed extreme
events (critical
incidents, potentially
traumatic events).
Make support available
after the mission/
employment.
5. COMMUNITY MOBILISATION AND SUPPORT
5.1 Facilitate conditions for community mobilisation, ownership and control of

emergency response in all sectors
Coordinate efforts by different stakeholders to mobilise communities.

Assess the political, social and security environment at the earliest possible stage.
Talk with a variety of key informants and formal and informal groups, learning
how local people are organising and how different agencies can participate in the
relief effort.
Facilitate the participation of marginalised people.
Establish safe and
sufficient spaces early
on to support
planning discussions
and the
dissemination of
information.
Promote
community
mobilisation
processes.
For a detailed
explanation, see pages
93-99 of the IASC
Guidelines.
5.2 Facilitate community self-help and social support
Identify human resources in the local community.

Facilitate the process of community identification of priority actions through
participatory rural appraisal and other participatory methods.
Support community initiatives, actively encouraging those that promote family
and community support for all emergency-affected community members, including
people at greatest risk.
Encourage and support additional activities that promote family and community
support for all emergency-affected community members and, specifically, for people
at greatest risk.
Provide short, participatory training sessions where appropriate, coupled with
follow-up support.
When necessary, advocate within the community and beyond on behalf of
marginalised and at-risk people.
5.3 Facilitate conditions for appropriate communal cultural, spiritual and

religious healing practices
Approach local religious and spiritual leaders and other

cultural guides to learn their
views on how people have
been affected and on
practices that would support
the affected population.
Exercise ethical
sensitivity.
Learn about cultural,
religious and spiritual
supports and coping
mechanisms.
Disseminate the
information
collected among
humanitarian actors
at sector and
coordination
meetings.
Facilitate conditions
for appropriate healing practices.
5.4 Prevent separation and facilitate support for young children (0-8 years) and
their care-givers
Keep children with their

mothers, fathers,
family or other
familiar care-givers:
prevent
separation,
reunify
children and
parents, and
- only when
necessary-
facilitate
alternative
care
arrangements.
Promote the
continuation of
breastfeeding.
Facilitate age and
culturally appropriate play, nurturing care and social support that gives children
a sense of routine and participation in normalizing activities.
Care for care-givers by organizing meetings at which care-givers can discuss past,
present and future; share problem-solving; and support one another in caring
effectively for their children.
For detailed guidance, see pages 110-115 of the IASC Guidelines.
6. HEALTH SERVICES
6.1 Include specific psychological and social considerations in provision of

general health care
Include specific social considerations in providing general health care.

Provide birth and death certificates (if needed).
Facilitate referral to key resources outside the health system.
Orient general health staff and mental health staff in psychological components of
emergency health care, including psychological first aid.
Make available
psychological support for
survivors of extreme
stressors (also known as
traumatic stressors).
Collect data on mental
health in primary health
care settings.
For a detailed explanation, see

pages 116-122 of the IASC
Guidelines.
6.2 Provide access to care for people with severe mental disorders
Assess existing services and identify people in need.

Build a relationship with traditional healers and facilitate the use of supportive
traditional healing methods where appropriate.
Ensure sustainable supplies of psychotropic
medication.
Initiate rapid supervised
training for emergency
PHC staff.
Establish an accessible
advertised service.
Avoid the creation of
parallel mental
health services
focused on specific
diagnoses (e.g.
posttraumatic stress
disorder) or on
narrow groups (e.g. widows).
Provide biological, psychological, and
social interventions to relieve symptoms,
provide protection and restore function.
Educate and support existing carers.
Work with local community structures and groups to enable protection of those
severely disabled by mental disorder.
With displaced populations, plan for return home (as appropriate).
Collaborate with existing health services and authorities to facilitate sustainable
care.
6.3 Protect and care for people with severe mental disorders and other mental
and neurological disabilities living in institutions
Ensure that at least one agency involved in health care accepts responsibility for
ongoing care and protection of people in institutions.
If staff have abandoned psychiatric institutions, mobilise human resources from
the community and the health system to care for people with severe mental disorders
who have been abandoned.
Protect the lives and dignity of people living in psychiatric institutions.
Enable basic health and mental health care throughout the emergency.
6.4 Learn about and, where appropriate, collaborate with local, indigenous and
traditional healing systems
Assess and map the

provision of care.
Learn about
national policy
regarding
traditional
healers.
Establish rapport
with identified
healers.
Encourage the
participation of
local healers in
information sharing and training sessions.
If possible, set up collaborative services.
6.5 Minimise harm related to alcohol and other substance use
Conduct a rapid assessment.

Prevent harmful alcohol and
other substance use and
dependence.
Facilitate harm reduction
interventions in the
community.
Manage withdrawal and
other acute problems.
For a detailed explanation,

see pages 142-147 of the
IASC Guidelines.
7. EDUCATION
7.1 Strengthen access to safe and supportive education
Promote safe learning

environments.
Make formal and non-formal
education more supportive
and relevant.
Strengthen access to quality
education for all.
Prepare and encourage
educators to support learners'
psychosocial well-being.
Strengthen the capacity of the
education system to support
learners experiencing psychosocial
and mental health difficulties.
8. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
8.1 Provide information to the affected population on the emergency, relief

efforts and their legal rights
Facilitate the formation of

an information
and communication
team.
Regularly assess the
situation and identify
key information
gaps and key
information for
dissemination.
Develop a
communication and
campaign plan.
Create channels to access and disseminate credible and valid information to the
affected population.
Ensure coordination between communication personnel working in different
agencies.
8.2 Provide access to information about positive coping methods
Determine what information on positive coping methods is already available among

the disaster-affected population.
If no information on positive coping methods is currently available, develop
information on positive, culturally appropriate coping methods for use among the
disaster-affected population.
Adapt the information to address the specific needs of sub-groups of the population
as appropriate.
Develop and implement a strategy for effective dissemination of information.
9. FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION
9.1 Include specific social and psychological considerations (safe aid for all in
dignity, considering cultural practices and household roles) in the provision
of food and nutritional support
Assess psychosocial factors related to food security, nutrition and food aid.
Maximise participation in the planning, distribution and follow-up of food aid.
Maximise security and protection in the implementation of food aid.
Implement food aid in a culturally appropriate manner that protects the identity,
integrity and dignity of primary stakeholders.
Collaborate with health facilities and other support structures for referral of recipients
who need special attention (e.g. under-stimulated, malnourished children; mentally
ill persons).
Stimulate community discussion for long-term food security planning.
10. SHELTER, SITE PLANNING
Include specific social considerations (safe, dignified, culturally and socially

10.1
appropriate assistance) in site planning and shelter provision, in a coordinated
manner
Use a participatory approach that engages women and people at risk in assessment,
planning and implementation.
Select sites that protect security and minimise conflict with permanent residents.
Include communal safe spaces in site design and implementation to enable social,
cultural and religious educational activities and dissemination of information.
Develop and use an effective system of documentation and registration.
Distribute shelter and allocate land in a non-discriminatory manner.
Maximise privacy, ease of movement, opportunities for social support and
maintenance of social relations through site and shelter planning.
Balance flexibility and protection in organising shelter and site arrangements.
Avoid creating a culture of dependency among displaced people and promote
durable solutions.
11. WATER AND SANITATION
11.1 Include specific social considerations (safe and culturally appropriate access
for all in dignity) in the provision of water and sanitation
Include social and cultural issues in water and sanitation and hygiene promotion
assessments.
Enable participation in assessment, planning and implementation, especially
engaging women and other people at risk.
Promote dignity, safety and protection in all water and sanitation activities, ensuring
that latrines and bathing areas are lockable and well-lit.
Prevent and manage in a constructive manner conflict over water between affected
families or between displaced groups and permanent residents.
Promote personal and community hygiene.
Facilitate community monitoring of, and feedback on, water and sanitation facilities,
being sure to talk with people at risk.
Notes
IASC Guidelines
The IASC Guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial
Support in Emergency Settings reflect the insights of numerous
agencies and practitioners worldwide and provide valuable in Emergency Settings
information to organisations and individuals on how to respond
appropriately during humanitarian emergencies.
Specifc action sheets offer useful guidance on mental health and

psychosocial support, and cover the following areas:
Coordination
Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation
Protection and Human Rights Standards
Human Resources
Community Mobilisation and Support
Health Services
Education
Dissemination of Information
Food Security and Nutrition
Shelter and site Planning
Water and Sanitation
Reading the full IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in
Emergency Settings from cover to cover may not be possible during an emergency. This
limitation led to the development of this check-list for programme planning and
emergency response. This checklist cannot capture all the important points in the
Guidelines. Readers are encouraged to use this cheklist only in conjunction with the full
Guidelines.
Published by the Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC), the Guidelines

give humanitarian actors useful inter-agency, inter-sectoral guidance and
tools for responding effectively in the midst of emergencies.
Hecho el Depósito Legal en la Biblioteca Nacional del Perú Nº 2008-14673

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IASC Guidelines

on Mental Health and

Specifc action sheets offer useful guidance on mental health and

Published by the Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC), the Guidelines

Hecho el Depósito Legal en la Biblioteca Nacional del Perú Nº 2008-14673

Cover page photos: © International Rescue Committee.

Purpose of these guidelines 5

PURPOSE OF THESE GUIDELINES

The primary purpose of these guidelines is to enable humanitarian actors and

Implementation of the guidelines requires extensive collaboration among various

How to use this checklist for field use

Reading the full IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial

1. Human rights and equity

Humanitarian actors should promote the human rights of all

Humanitarian action should maximise the participation of local

Work on mental health and psychosocial support has the

Participating in coordination groups to learn from others and to

All affected groups have assets or resources that support

5. Integrated support systems

Activities and programming should be integrated as far as

In emergencies, people are affected in different ways and

Community and family supports

Basic services and security

Figure 1. Intervention pyramid for mental health and psychosocial support

i. Basic services and security

The well-being of all people should be protected through the (re)establishment

ii. Community and family supports

iii. Focused, non-specialised supports

iv. Specialised services

Support a coordinated response, Do not work in isolation or without

Collect and analyse information to Do not conduct duplicate assessments or

Recognise that people are affected by Do not assume that everyone in an

Pay attention to gender differences. Do not assume that emergencies affect

Facilitate the development of Do not use a charity model that treats

Organise access to a range of supports, Do not provide one-off, single-session

Train and supervise primary/general health Do not provide psychotropic medication

Develop locally appropriate care solutions Do not institutionalise people (unless an

Use agency communication officers to Do not use agency communication officers

Seek to integrate psychosocial Do not focus solely on clinical activities

Matrix of minimum responses

Area A. Common functions

1 Coordination 1.1 Establish coordination of intersectoral mental health

2 Assessment, 2.1 Conduct assessments of mental health and

3 Protection and 3.1 Apply a human rights framework through mental

4.1 Identify and recruit staff and engage volunteers who

5 Community 5.1 Facilitate conditions for community

6 Health 6.1 Include specific psychological and social

7 Education 7.1 Strengthen access to safe and supportive

8 Dissemination 8.1 Provide information to the affected population

9 Food security 9.1 Include specific social and psychological

10 Shelter and 10.1 Include specific social considerations (safe,

11 Water and 11.1 Include specific social considerations (safe and

Summary of Action Sheets:

1.1 Establish coordination of intersectoral mental health and psychosocial support

2.1 Conduct assessments of mental health and psychosocial issues

Ensure that assessments are coordinated.

For a detailed explanation, see pages 38-45 of the IASC Guidelines.

Define a set of indicators for

For a detailed explanation, see pages